動議 · 2024-01-10 · 屆國會 14

構建包容安全的數字社會

AI 安全與倫理 AI 經濟與產業 AI 與就業 AI 與醫療 爭議度 3 · 實質辯論

議員質詢數字化對勞動力、人工智慧影響及心理健康問題，政府回應強調AI帶來的機遇，推行技能提升計劃支援轉型，注重數字包容與心理健康，核心爭議在於AI對就業和社會的影響及應對策略。

關鍵要點

  • • AI影響勞動力
  • • 技能提升支援
  • • 關注心理健康
政府立場

積極擁抱AI，支援勞工轉型

政策訊號

推動數字技能培訓與包容發展

“The competition is not between "man" and "machine" but which economy and society can better use technology to improve our competitiveness and our lives.”

參與人員 (6)

完整譯文（中文）

Hansard 原始記錄 · 2026-05-02

[(程式文本) 辯論繼續。(程式文本)]

議長：通訊及資訊高階國務部長陳杰豪先生。

下午6時24分

通訊及資訊高階國務部長（陳杰豪先生）：議長先生，我支援田佩玲女士提出的動議。

感謝各位議員對建設安全包容的數字社會提出的深思熟慮的建議。我將就數字包容話題發言，張玉娟部長將就數字信任與安全相關議題發言。

議長先生，若獲准許，能否請書記員向議員們分發張玉娟部長和我今天將討論的補充資料？議員們也可通過MP@SG Parl手機應用程式獲取講義。

議長：請繼續。[向尊敬的議員們分發講義副本。]

陳杰豪先生：議長先生，首先讓我回應議員們關於數字化對勞動力以及心理健康和福祉影響的觀點。

田佩玲女士、沙拉爾·塔哈先生和李顯龍先生詢問了數字化，尤其是人工智慧（AI）對我們的勞動力、中小企業和商業的影響。

人工智慧領域，尤其是生成式人工智慧，發展迅速。分析師對人工智慧對勞動力和產業的影響預測差異很大，有時甚至相互矛盾。但普遍共識是，人工智慧已經到來，其發展將對世界產生深遠影響，當然也包括我們這個小紅點。

我們不應過度恐懼或焦慮這一趨勢，而應自信地擁抱人工智慧帶來的可能性。競爭不是“人”與“機器”的對抗，而是哪個經濟體和社會能更好地利用技術提升競爭力和生活質量。

新加坡有良好條件利用人工智慧的力量，正如我們在以往技術變革浪潮中所做的那樣。政府一貫支援企業和員工適應變化，使他們能充分受益於數字技術帶來的機遇。例如，我們利用針對不同行業的崗位轉型地圖（JTM），幫助僱主和員工瞭解併為未來技術驅動的崗位做好準備。SkillsFuture和新加坡勞動力發展局提供專案，支援員工提升技能和再培訓以勝任新崗位。希望轉向技術崗位者可利用資訊通訊媒體發展局（IMDA）的技術技能加速器（TeSA）專案。政府將繼續與三方夥伴，包括工會，合作推進這項重要工作，正如施恩慈女士、沙拉爾·塔哈先生和李顯龍先生所建議的。

溫瑞扎爾博士提出了技術對心理健康和福祉的影響問題。本院將在下月“推進心理健康”動議中對此話題進行更全面討論。這裡我先簡要介紹通訊及資訊部對此問題的做法。

通訊及資訊部認識到技術和社交媒體使用可能對心理健康和福祉產生嚴重影響。正如溫瑞扎爾博士、副教授拉茲瓦娜·貝古姆、納迪婭·桑丁女士以及瑪麗亞姆·賈法爾女士所提及，這些風險包括接觸有害的網路內容，如網路欺凌和自殘內容，以及過度和問題性使用社交媒體。為減輕新加坡使用者面臨的這些風險，通訊及資訊部已推出監管措施以增強使用者的網路安全，張玉娟部長稍後將詳細說明。

我們還與公共、私營及民間部門的合作伙伴攜手，提高新加坡人對網路安全的意識，推廣健康平衡使用技術的良好習慣。例如，我們與教育部合作，加強學校的網路健康教育，教導學生成為有辨識力、安全、尊重且負責任的網路空間使用者。學生們還學習尊重與同理心的重要性，如何保護自己和他人，以及必要時尋求幫助。

溫瑞扎爾博士還談到了家長的角色。我們同意家長在引導孩子數字旅程中，尤其是在早期階段，扮演關鍵角色。我們與媒體素養理事會等合作伙伴合作，開發家長和看護者資源。

通訊及資訊部還與科技公司合作，於去年三月推出了“網路安全數字工具包”，指導家長利用社交媒體平臺上的家長控制、隱私和舉報工具，以及自助資源。

這些努力共同旨在讓網路空間對所有人更安全，賦能個人掌握保護自己和親人的知識，這是一項持續的旅程。我們將繼續與合作伙伴攜手推進。

議長先生，接下來談談數字包容主題。議員們提出了許多關於數字化為新加坡人帶來益處和機遇的好觀點。作為一個資源稀缺的小紅點，我們無法脫離全球數字經濟，尤其當其他國家積極推進數字化戰略，包括利用人工智慧等新興技術時。

因此，我們的目標始終是讓數字惠及所有人，使每位新加坡人都能受益。我很高興所有議員都認同這一信念。

葉漢榮先生、陳潔儀女士、王華漢先生和烏莎·錢德拉達斯女士談到了新加坡人在數字化過程中面臨的一些挑戰。我對此深有同感。我在走訪、見民眾會以及多個焦點小組中遇到許多處境相似的新加坡人。

讓數字惠及所有人不僅僅是數字化，還要認識到部分新加坡人在某些交易中仍偏好非數字選項。因此，我們的做法不是一刀切的數字化。例如陳潔儀女士早前提到的社群發展理事會（CDC）購物券，推出一週內，127萬戶新加坡家庭中有80%領取了購物券。我相信大多數新加坡人是通過數字方式領取的。

但偏好使用實體購物券的人可前往社群中心列印紙質購物券。為更好支援居民，學生志願者、銀髮資訊健康大使和數字大使隨時提供幫助。

需要面對面政府服務支援的新加坡人可訪問我們七個ServiceSG中心之一。中心可協助辦理近600項政府服務和計劃。去年，約40萬筆交易在ServiceSG中心完成，包括Singpass申請、公積金和稅務服務等。

讓數字惠及所有人還意味著支援所有新加坡人，無論其處境如何，都能從數字化中受益。常言道，一個社會的衡量標準是如何照顧最脆弱群體。我們正採取措施，支援需要更多幫助的人享受數字化帶來的好處。

在這方面，我們建立了堅實基礎。去年，資訊通訊媒體發展局釋出了首份《新加坡數字社會報告》，對我們的努力進行了盤點。多年來我們取得了良好進展。我們是全球數字連線最緊密的國家之一。我們的數字包容努力在國際上備受認可。新加坡自2018年至2022年最新報告連續位列包容性網際網路指數第一。

這些資料表明我們走在正確道路上，但我們不會自滿。感謝議員們提出寶貴建議，如何更好支援低收入家庭、中小企業、長者和殘障人士享受數字化成果。

讓我談談部分努力。

沙拉爾·塔哈先生強調支援低收入家庭數字連線的重要性。資訊通訊媒體發展局於去年四月推出DigitalAccess@Home計劃，通過簡化申請流程，為低收入家庭提供補貼寬頻和數字裝置支援。迄今已支援約6800戶家庭。

特別是結合之前的NEU PC Plus等計劃，過去三年我們共支援了2.6萬戶有學童的家庭獲得數字裝置。[請參閱《通訊及資訊高階國務部長澄清》，官方報告，2024年1月10日，第95卷，第119期，書面更正部分。]

目前，98%的有學童居民家庭擁有電腦。我們將繼續通過DigitalAccess@Home等計劃支援剩餘2%。這也補充了教育部和學校支援學生居家學習的努力，國家數字素養計劃為中學生提供學校指定的個人學習裝置。此外，學校還向需要的學生借出電腦和聯網裝置。

我們將繼續與學校和社群夥伴合作，覆蓋所有有學童的家庭。

我們還於2020年6月推出了長者手機接入計劃，為低收入長者提供補貼智慧手機和行動數據計劃及培訓。自2020年以來，已有超過1.1萬名低收入長者受益。

重要的是，產業和社群夥伴在支援低收入家庭數字接入方面發揮重要作用。例如，非營利組織SG Bono翻新捐贈的筆記型電腦，供低收入家庭特別是有學童的家庭使用。我特別高興得知SG Bono自2021年起將支援擴充套件至低收入家庭的馬德拉薩學生。

維克拉姆·奈爾先生談到了小販。這是我們通過“小販數字化”計劃支援的另一類微型企業或新加坡人。截至去年11月，超過1.1萬名攤主，即約60%的小販，已通過新加坡二維碼（SGQR）平臺採用電子支付。該計劃下，SGQR在去年6月至11月間每月促成約510萬筆、價值4200萬新元的交易。

除了SGQR和電子支付外，這些對小販和社群商戶的數字化支援增強了他們參與其他數字計劃的信心，如社群發展理事會購物券。

我很鼓舞看到許多社群商戶和小企業在此基礎上進一步轉型商業模式，抓住電子商務機遇。

葉漢榮先生、王華漢先生等談到了“長者數字化”計劃並詢問進展。

“長者數字化”計劃旨在為長者提供基本數字技能，使他們也能成為數字社會一員，享受數字化帶來的好處。該計劃於2020年啟動，正值新冠疫情期間需求尤為迫切。迄今我們已為超過28萬名長者提供培訓。

長者數字技能採納率逐年提升。例如，2022年86%的長者知道如何線上查詢資訊，較2019年增長29%。我總被長者們勇於學習數字技能的精神所激勵，儘管起初可能有挑戰。這體現了他們終身學習的精神，以及數字大使、銀髮資訊健康大使、家人和朋友耐心引導的奉獻。

想學習數字技能的新加坡人可訪問全島37個SG數字社群中心，或前往200多個流動櫃檯，分佈於工作場所、醫療機構和社群空間。

另一方面是包容性設計服務，考慮特定群體需求。納迪婭·桑丁女士和王華漢先生談到了支援殘障人士。特別感謝王華漢先生代表聾人和視障社群提出反饋和建設性建議。

我們正朝著2030年前使所有高流量政府網站對殘障人士完全無障礙的目標邁進。高流量政府網站的完全無障礙比例已從2022年的61%提升至去年的73%。

王華漢先生提到我們已為重要國家活動和關鍵公共公告引入手語翻譯，以改善殘障人士獲取國家重要資訊的渠道。如今，61%的免費電視節目為聾啞及聽障觀眾提供字幕。我們正與媒體集團合作，力爭到2030年實現70%的免費電視節目通過手語翻譯、字幕或文字轉錄實現無障礙。

納迪婭·桑丁女士強調支援殘障人士使用輔助技術和學習數字技能的重要性。需要輔助技術（如專用鍵盤和滑鼠）的殘障人士可申請社會及家庭發展部（MSF）的輔助技術基金，該基金根據經濟狀況提供最高90%的裝置費用補貼，終身上限為4萬新元。該基金可用於購買、更換、升級或維修裝置。

他們還可在Tech Able接受裝置評估和培訓，該中心由SG Enable與殘障社會服務機構SPD在賦能村聯合管理。納迪婭女士提到的數字賦能計劃是數字生活（DfL）資助專案，支援殘障人士掌握混合工作世界所需的數字技能。截至2023年3月，該計劃已支援200個培訓名額。

我同意王華漢先生的觀點，產業夥伴，尤其是提供基本服務的企業，必須發揮作用，提升服務的無障礙性。

我們通過提供資源和工具降低產業夥伴的採納門檻。SG Enable提供電子無障礙培訓和諮詢服務，幫助企業瞭解如何將無障礙功能融入數字服務。GovTech無障礙支援團隊（ALLY）開發了Purple ALLY，一款免費開源的測試工具，供數字團隊檢測如何提升數字產品或服務的無障礙性。

王華漢先生還詢問未來數字基礎設施設計師和程式設計師是否會接觸數字無障礙知識。我們將繼續與高等院校合作。例如，義安理工學院設計文憑課程的學生會設計支援殘障使用者的電子裝置，作為課程內容之一。我們將繼續推動高等院校將相關內容納入課程。

我鼓勵產業夥伴利用這些資源，努力讓服務對所有新加坡人更具包容性。

同時，我讚賞王華漢先生的精神和建議。作為社會，我們都能做更多，讓數字服務和產品更具包容性。第一步往往是理解彼此立場，採取務實措施實現目標。對此，我誠邀王華漢先生與我們的社群夥伴就此議題交流。會後我們將聯絡他。

這引出我的下一點。政府無法獨自完成這項工作。我很高興許多議員——蘇翰妮女士、王華漢先生、烏莎·錢德拉達斯女士等——強調這是全社會的努力。政府、企業、社群和個人必須攜手支援需要幫助的不同群體。

2021年啟動的數字生活運動是這項集體努力的重要組成部分，進展令人鼓舞，匯聚了公共部門、私營部門和民間部門三大關鍵夥伴，共同推動這一事業。

超過140個數字生活夥伴已觸及27萬多名受益者。夥伴們慷慨捐贈約1400萬新元至數字生活基金，支援數字包容工作，包括社群自發專案。

我感到欣慰的是，許多人願意挺身而出支援同胞新加坡人。我鼓勵更多夥伴加入，與我們攜手合作。

例如，烏莎女士分享瞭如何更好地讓藝術界成員參與數字包容工作。我們一定會聯絡他們。

議長先生，我們在提升數字連線和服務可及性方面取得了良好進展。但僅有接入還不夠。畢竟，如果沒有技能利用連線和數字裝置，連線又有何用？瑪麗亞姆·賈法爾女士談到了人工智慧素養，沙拉爾·塔哈先生談到必須為所有新加坡人，尤其是低收入家庭學生，提供機會。我同意他們的看法。

教育部去年九月推出“通過技術轉型教育”計劃，進一步加強學生數字素養和技術技能發展，首先從人工智慧素養開始。昨天，教育部也回應了議員們關於學生學習人工智慧機會的提問。

我們與教育部合作推出了“程式設計樂趣”（Code For Fun）專案，讓學生接觸程式設計和計算思維。自2020年起，所有小學高年級學生必須參加“程式設計樂趣”或類似程式設計課程。

隨著科技的不斷發展，信息通信媒體發展局（IMDA）和教育部（MOE）將審視CFF充實計劃，確保其內容相關且與時俱進。我們正努力在2025年更新的課程中引入有關人工智慧和資料素養的新內容。

在校外，學生、青年和公眾有許多機會探索新技術。例如，社群合作伙伴如SGBono和VIVITA一直與勿洛社會服務處合作，將科技體驗帶給來自較弱勢背景、通常沒有此類機會的兒童。早些時候，議員們提出了許多社群中的良好倡議。

針對公眾，我們在圖書館推出了ExperienceIT和MakeIT等專案。這些專案通過資訊展示和動手活動，展示了人工智慧、機器學習和3D列印等新興技術和創新。因此，請大家到附近的圖書館參觀這些展覽和展示。

同時，我們認識到有些人可能尚未準備好掌握更高階的數字技能，可能希望先專注於建立基礎，安全上網，並在日常生活中自信地使用數字服務和工具。

為支援這一點，IMDA今天將推出“數字生活技能”（Digital Skills for Life，簡稱DSL）。在分發的資料中，議員們會找到一份關於DSL的詳細說明。與現有為新加坡人提供職場或特定行業數字技能的框架不同，DSL概述了使新加坡人能夠線上完成日常任務的數字技能。我們參考了海外案例並徵求了專家意見，但更重要的是，我們聽取了新加坡人自己的聲音。我們從過去三年通過“長者數字行動”計劃接觸超過28萬名長者的見解中獲益良多，特別感謝去年參與試點的1.6萬名學習者提供的寶貴反饋。

DSL框架涵蓋五項能力。首先，設定和使用智慧裝置，掌握裝置的基本功能操作。第二，線上探索資訊。通過網際網路，我們可以獲取無限的資訊和新機會，但需要知道如何安全地搜尋、檢視和檢索這些資訊以供使用。第三，與他人線上溝通。第四，線上交易以提高便利性——例如訪問銀行和政府服務、預約醫療等。最重要的是第五，線上安全、聰明且友善——瞭解如何防範詐騙和虛假資訊，以及如何建立積極的網路形象。

這些都是實用技能，能切實改善新加坡人的日常生活。讓我分享一個例子。幾年前，我在勿洛心跳社群中心的SG數字社群中心遇到一位老年女士。她向我們的數字大使提出許多關於如何使用智慧手機的問題，我看到她在一個小筆記本上認真做筆記。她大約五十多歲，講普通話。當我問她在學什麼時，她的回答令我既驚訝又感動。她說自己曾是網路詐騙的受害者，損失了一些錢。她來這裡學習如何確保此類事情不再發生。她沒有恐懼或退縮，而是希望通過學習保護自己，正面應對問題。

有許多長者像她一樣。社群中心的數字大使耐心地向她講解了對我們所有人都有用的實用網路安全技巧。例如，如何建立更強的密碼，而不是使用詐騙者容易猜到的預設密碼“Password”。她堅韌的精神和學習意願令我非常感動，我們希望為像她這樣的新加坡人提供合適的工具、資源和能力，幫助他們掌握所需技能。

為此，我們正與數字生活運動（DfL）下的合作伙伴合作，開發符合DSL框架的資源。有興趣的學習者可以在SG數字社群中心進行面對面學習，數字大使和銀髮資訊通訊健康大使將陪伴數字技能較弱的新加坡人共同學習。學習者也可以按自己的節奏學習，並通過數字生活入口網站訪問影片和指南。那些希望幫助家人和朋友掌握技能的人可以利用這些資源進行教學。英文數字資源將從本月起逐步推出，中文、馬來語和泰米爾語資源將在今年上半年提供。

先生，請允許我用普通話說幾句話。

（普通話）：[請參閱方言發言。]“數字生活技能”（DSL）是一場自下而上的運動，我們希望看到更多合作伙伴和組織加入，共同努力取得成功。

我們將把相關內容和其他教學材料線上免費提供給合作伙伴使用。這是我們對全球數字化程序的一點貢獻。

我們的合作伙伴在開展數字技能培訓時可以參考這些資源，也可以採用創新方式促進學習，進一步推廣DSL運動。例如，將材料製作成遊戲，使兒童學習更有趣生動，或製作方言音影片內容，向長者介紹五項基本技能。

我希望大家善用這些資源，讓更多新加坡人受益。

DSL框架是幫助新加坡人開啟數字旅程的起點。正如我們學習寫字要先掌握每一筆，數字技能的學習也必須從最基礎開始。有了堅實的基礎，隨著數字技術的發展，我們將更有信心學習新技能，跟上時代步伐。

我們將定期審視該框架，確保其內容符合當前需求。

（英語）：讓我總結一下。多年來，我們在建設包容且安全的數字社會願景方面取得了巨大進展。我們在裝置和寬頻連線方面擁有堅實的“硬體”基礎。我們正在加強“軟體”層面，提升新加坡人的技能和能力，使他們能夠安全、自信地在網路空間中導航，充分利用激動人心的數字機遇。

然而，正如許多議員熱情表達的，我們必須超越“硬體”和“軟體”，培養我們的“心智”，即我們如何相互對待，營造一個更友善的網路空間，在這裡我們努力傾聽以求理解，而不是大聲爭辯；努力尊重他人觀點，即使在某些問題上存在分歧，也能找到共同點；努力說出善意的話語，而不是加入傳播負能量。

在現實世界中，我們放心讓親人自由走在街上，相信他們會有愉快的互動，不必時刻提防威脅。我們相信有規範指導我們的行為和相互交流。我們也應將這種信任帶入網路空間，讓長者能無憂上網，孩子們能自信上網，不必擔心網路欺凌或接觸有害內容。

但維護數字街道安全，全靠我們每個人。我們每個人都能發揮作用，共建更安全、更包容、更友善的數字社會。先生，我支援該動議。

議長：通訊及資訊部長張玉娟女士。

通訊及資訊部長（張玉娟女士）：議長先生，我支援由陳佩玲女士提出的動議，並感謝她與沙拉爾·塔哈先生、蘇翰妮女士、陳潔儀女士和任偉文先生共同關注這一重要議題。

2014年智慧國計劃啟動時，我們設想新加坡成為“一個人們過著有意義且充實生活的國家，技術無縫支援，提供激動人心的機會給所有人”。

十年過去了，這一願景確實實現了。科技已成為我們日常生活的重要部分，84%的新加坡人表示在某種程度上受益。我們經濟中每100元的附加值中，至少有17元來自數字相關活動。2022年，這一數字達到1060億新元，超過金融服務和保險業，與批發貿易相當。

如今，新加坡有超過20萬個科技崗位，中位數工資高於本地勞動力。雖然僅佔所有崗位的5%以上，但其他行業中也有成千上萬個崗位因數字技術而得到提升。

我們的目標是讓所有新加坡人都能從這些發展中受益。高階國務部長陳杰輝談到了數字包容以及政府確保各社會群體均能感受到利益的努力。

與此同時，我們的數字生活方式也帶來了新風險。網路攻擊、詐騙和有害內容對我們的安全構成日益增長的威脅。正如許多議員指出的，社會信任——對正常人際交往至關重要——可能會被削弱。

我將重點談兩個主題。第一，我們迄今為止在數字領域保護新加坡人所做的工作；第二，我們還需要做些什麼以保障人們安全。

先生，在大多數領域，新加坡可以借鑑其他國家的治理經驗。但在數字領域，幾乎沒有現成的、經過驗證的解決方案。事實上，新加坡被視為數字治理的先行者，並因此獲得認可。

李顯龍先生談到企業需要以道德方式保護和處理客戶資訊。我們十多年前就開始應對這一問題。2012年，我們推出了個人資料保護法（PDPA），早於歐盟的通用資料保護條例（GDPR）。到2020年，我們修訂該法，加強了組織責任和消費者保護，同時增強了使用個人資料進行創新的信心。2018年，我們頒佈了網路安全法，針對網路空間威脅，特別是關鍵資訊基礎設施（CII）面臨的威脅。

除了保護關鍵資訊基礎設施，我們還推出了幫助企業提升網路安全防護的舉措。李先生建議開發行業特定資源，我們贊同。在下一階段的SG網路安全企業計劃中，網路安全域性（CSA）將推出行業特定的網路安全舉措，首先涵蓋醫療保健和製造業。

此外，我此前宣佈我們預計將更新網路安全法，以確保其適用性。關於擬議修訂的公眾諮詢正在進行中。

2019年，鑑於虛假資訊的危害，我們推出了防止網路虛假資訊和操縱法案（POFMA）。作為一個小型、多種族、多宗教的國家，新加坡特別容易受到加劇社會分裂的虛假資訊影響。POFMA是維護事實基礎設施的精準工具，其效用在新冠疫情期間尤為明顯，有效抵禦了關於疫苗和疫情相關死亡的各種虛假資訊。

2021年，為應對其他國家可能針對我們的敵對資訊活動，我們推出了外國干預（對策）法案（FICA），確保新加坡政治僅屬於新加坡人。

萬瑞扎爾博士、瑪麗亞姆·賈法爾女士和納迪婭·桑姆丁女士談到了兒童接觸有害網路內容的風險。我們也採取了措施應對。2023年7月，信息通信媒體發展局（IMDA）推出了網路安全行為準則，要求在新加坡具有重大影響力的社交媒體服務採取措施，最大限度減少使用者接觸有害內容，包括額外保護18歲以下兒童的措施。

瑞扎爾博士和納迪婭女士建議平臺實施年齡認證措施。目前尚無萬無一失的方法防止社交媒體平臺上的虛假年齡宣告，但技術已有進步。如今，年齡認證可在不侵犯隱私的前提下達到較高準確度。信息通信媒體發展部（MCI）和IMDA正密切關注相關發展，並將研究可行的監管選項，通過年齡認證更好地保護兒童上網安全。

我知道達里爾·大衛先生將談及應對網路危險，如網路跟蹤和身體羞辱，併為受害者提供支援。目前，網路騷擾和人肉搜尋受2014年防騷擾法管轄。受害者可通過2021年設立的防騷擾法庭尋求救濟，該法庭已服務數千人。

法律部（MinLaw）正在進一步研究如何更好地賦權受害者制止此類網路傷害並追究責任。法律部的努力將補充信息通信媒體發展部（MCI）加強政府監管工具包的工作，以及內政部（MHA）應對網路犯罪的努力，後者我稍後會詳細說明。

先生，從我所述內容可見，我們積極且逐步推出了數字治理的新法律和規章。我們有意識地避免一刀切的方法，而是採取漸進式策略，深入理解問題，並在確定有效措施時迅速行動。

對於未經驗證的解決方案，我們並未完全止步，而是推出了示範框架或自願採納的指導方針。

我們還開發了實用工具，幫助組織履行監管義務或提升治理標準。未來可預見，這將繼續是新加坡數字治理的方式。事實上，這也是我們處理人工智慧治理的方式。感謝瑞扎爾博士、林佔武先生和瑪麗亞姆女士強調負責任使用和開發人工智慧的重要性。

議員們可能記得，早在2019年推出首個國家人工智慧戰略（NAIS）之前，我們就推出了區域首創的人工智慧治理示範框架（MGF）。2021年，新加坡成為全球首批開發安全負責任人工智慧測試框架和軟體工具包（AI Verify）的國家之一。

最近，我們承諾制定關於人工智慧系統中個人資料使用的指導方針，包括保護兒童等弱勢群體個人資料的保障措施。

全球人工智慧治理的對話非常重要。新加坡將繼續積極參與國際論壇，如全球人工智慧夥伴關係和聯合國人工智慧高階諮詢委員會。

正如陳潔儀女士和瑪麗亞姆女士所提，我們通過NAIS 2.0更新了人工智慧戰略。我們將很快更新應對人工智慧風險的建議。例如，我們非常關注生成式人工智慧被濫用於傳播虛假資訊和實施定向詐騙。

減輕偏見和提升人工智慧模型的可解釋性對於負責任地開發和部署人工智慧也至關重要。我們計劃本月晚些時候釋出MGF 2.0供公眾諮詢。

在數字領域的所有風險中，有一類尤其令人擔憂——詐騙。這是幾乎所有議員都提到的問題。

近期對詐騙的關注看似新鮮，實則與過去的欺詐案件非常相似。年長的新加坡人可能記得1970年代假保險單的銷售。2006年，陽光帝國偽裝成多層次營銷公司，運營龐氏騙局，承諾高額回報。2010年代初，SureWin4U龐氏騙局誘騙受害者投資賭場投注計劃。

如今，詐騙者利用技術銷售假工作、假愛情和假折扣商品，如雞蛋或旅遊套餐。通過多樣化、快速和大規模手段，他們比以往造成更多受害者。每當我與詐騙受害者交談，聽到他們的痛苦經歷，我就想起童年時經歷的類似恐慌。

1970年代，我與祖母住在柔佛街的一座老店屋。多次半夜被附近的“著火了！著火了！”喊聲驚醒。我們幾乎不知道火勢會蔓延多遠多快，只知道必須準備逃命。這種恐懼和無助感，終生難忘。

如今，火災隱患大多得到控制，大多數火災事件影響有限。這是因為我們有訓練有素、裝備精良的消防員來控制火情。還有包括消防安全規範在內的法規預防潛在火災事故。我們也有組織和市民的支援，共同營造和維護安全的防火環境。

在許多方面，我們打擊詐騙的方式就像我們成功撲滅火災一樣。我們投入資源加強能力，以遏制新興詐騙活動的影響。兩年前，新加坡警察部隊（SPF）成立了反詐騙指揮部（ASCom）。這有助於迅速追蹤資金並凍結涉詐銀行賬戶。2023年上半年，ASCom凍結了超過9,000個銀行賬戶，追回了約5,080萬新元的受害者損失。

我們還部署了工具來限制受害者的損失，就像使用阻燃劑減緩火勢蔓延一樣。

銀行實施了緊急“殺開關”，客戶若懷疑賬戶被入侵，可以快速暫停賬戶。去年11月，多家銀行推出了“資金鎖定”功能，允許客戶在銀行賬戶中預留一筆金額，該金額不能通過數字方式轉賬。

另一個近期例子是降低了網上公積金（CPF）提款的預設每日限額，且未經強身份驗證無法提高。會員還可以通過啟用CPF提款鎖輕鬆停用網上CPF提款，該鎖會立即將限額降至0元。

先生，這些遏制措施雖有幫助，但我們更希望從源頭防止詐騙發生。預防性保障說起來容易做起來難，因為它們需要與業界密切協調。已有或正在實施多項措施。

首先，我們將持續封堵詐騙者接觸潛在受害者的已知渠道。各位議員還記得，不久前詐騙者冒充關鍵機構的簡訊ID，誘騙受害者洩露銀行憑證。為應對這一問題，信息通信媒體發展局（IMDA）推出了創新方案。自去年1月起，所有使用字母數字發件人ID傳送簡訊的機構，必須在新加坡簡訊發件人ID登記處（SSIR）註冊。未註冊發件人的簡訊會被標記為“可能是詐騙”，以提醒手機使用者。

SSIR效果顯著。強制實施的前三個月內，詐騙簡訊案件下降了70%，且在新報案件中仍佔少數——不足5%。此外，電信公司在其網路內部署防火牆，主動阻斷可疑電話及試圖冒充本地號碼的電話。這些努力也很有效。2023年被阻斷的可疑國際電話數量較去年幾乎翻倍。為進一步保護公眾，電信公司現已為使用者提供阻止手機接收國際電話的選項，國際電話是詐騙電話的常見來源。

先生，雖然我們可以引入阻斷措施，但必須預料詐騙者會不斷以新方式“放火”。正如王議員所言，詐騙者越來越多地濫用網路平臺欺騙潛在受害者。為更有效應對，我們推出了《網路刑事危害法》（OCHA），將從今年起逐步實施。許多議員支援該法案，我再次感謝他們。

該法允許當局迅速下令封鎖涉嫌用於犯罪（包括詐騙）的網路賬戶或內容。為保護高風險平臺上的消費者，我們還將施加事前要求，如更嚴格的身份驗證要求。

第二組預防措施旨在阻斷欺詐交易，即使受害者已被騙。這包括防止Singpass賬戶被接管。因此，去年我們在Singpass認證流程中增加了更多摩擦。

進行高風險交易時，使用者需進行面部驗證。為防範冒充嘗試（如寶女士所問），面部驗證包括活體檢測，可防止使用靜態照片等攻擊。

面部驗證也作為高風險CPF電子服務的額外保障引入。自此，因未經授權的CPF提款導致的詐騙損失已無新增。

去年，我們還觀察到詐騙者利用惡意軟體繞過現有防護，在受害者賬戶上進行未經授權的欺詐交易。發現這一新型詐騙後，我們與銀行合作，增強其欺詐和惡意軟體檢測能力。受感染裝置被阻止與銀行交易。雖然無法量化，但否則可能損失數百萬新元。

最終，我們的裝置本身必須更能抵禦詐騙者發起的惡意軟體攻擊——正如田女士所述。因此，我們正與關鍵業界合作，提升新加坡銷售的移動裝置安全性。例如，我們正與谷歌合作設計新功能，更好地檢測並阻止使用者在安卓裝置上下載惡意檔案。

第三組措施涉及更嚴厲的後果，以威懾“洗錢馬仔”濫用我們的關鍵數字服務（如Singpass）實施詐騙。我們近期加強立法，將故意洩露Singpass憑證協助詐騙的個人定為刑事犯罪。我們也在審議如何將此原則擴充套件至向詐騙者出售SIM卡者。

先生，打擊詐騙是團隊合作，政府無法獨自完成。陳女士提到平臺運營商、電信公司和裝置製造商需做更多工作，提升使用者網路安全。我們贊同。正如王議員和陳議員所言，我們需要企業確保客戶在網路互動時享有安全環境。

去年8月，華僑銀行（OCBC）成為新加坡首批禁止客戶裝置存在潛在風險應用時訪問賬戶的銀行之一。部分客戶感到不便，但實際上，他們可能是首月避免至少200萬新元損失的受益者。金融管理局（MAS）隨後與其他主要銀行合作，實施類似防護措施。

多位議員也談及大型企業應承擔更多責任，減輕未經授權交易導致的詐騙。今年即將推出的共享責任框架（SRF）將進一步強化銀行和電信公司保護客戶免受網路釣魚詐騙威脅的責任。在SRF的公眾諮詢期間，收到許多建議，與今天提出的類似，涉及擴大覆蓋更多詐騙型別和更多實體，除銀行和電信公司外。

SRF涵蓋網路釣魚詐騙，因為這類詐騙是導致未經消費者知情和同意的欺詐交易的主要原因。與其他司法轄區僅對銀行施加義務的賠付框架相比，SRF已涵蓋更廣泛實體，包括電信公司。

SRF明確規定銀行和電信公司的職責，確保其對受害者負責。即使未違反職責，因而無賠付，受害者仍有其他救濟途徑，包括銀行的善意賠償框架，可為新型詐騙受害者提供一定安慰。正如去年議會所述，MAS已督促銀行更寬容地應用其善意框架。

儘管有這些補充措施，政府將考慮如何通過SRF或其他可用手段，增強關鍵實體的責任和加強對個人的保護。

我們聽到具體呼籲，特別是針對涉及惡意軟體和網路釣魚導致未經授權交易的詐騙變種，納入社交媒體平臺和封閉訊息服務。我感謝維克拉姆·奈爾議員和寶女士承認存在權衡和道德風險，政府無法採取一刀切的做法。

關於實體令牌，客戶可按需申請。但我須提醒，現有實體令牌雖能抵抗惡意軟體，但仍易受網路釣魚攻擊。相關機構正研究長期解決方案，如田女士提及的快速身份線上（FIDO）通行金鑰。

先生，感謝各位議員認可我們採取的多項措施及機構面臨的挑戰，如維克拉姆·奈爾議員指出的。對於葉漢榮議員建議借鑑國外最佳實踐，我們一直積極主動。我們的努力包括交流最新詐騙變種資訊及打擊策略。

然而，儘管有這些努力，仍有人質疑：“新加坡在打擊詐騙方面是否鬆懈？”

恰恰相反，新加坡在打擊詐騙方面被廣泛視為思想和行動的領導者。與國際同行交流時，我只能告訴大家，他們對我們實施的一些舉措感到驚歎，認為在他們的環境中難以想象，且仍屬前沿。這些包括廣泛的電話阻斷、簡訊發件人ID登記處（SSIR）、銀行現用的殺開關，以及公積金局的措施。

我們設有反詐騙指揮部，銀行和即將加入的其他實體共處一地；我們有ScamShield；還有業內人士非常關注的後臺流程——這些流程在此間無人詳談——在各機構及利益相關者間順暢跟進線索，這令他們難以實現。

許多措施也大幅減少了損失。因此，問題來了：“為何有排名將新加坡列為受害者損失較多的地區之一？”

我只能說，在許多地方，詐騙受害者不會費心舉報，因為他們不指望相關機構能有所作為。因此，這類報告反映的是新加坡的舉報率非常高。當然，這並非輕視損失金額，但我們必須認識這一事實。

在這方面，我認為公眾在關注和接受反詐騙公共教育方面表現出色。我理解這有時令他們焦慮——因為他們在公交站、組屋底層、數字顯示屏上不斷看到相關資訊，參加基層活動時，議員也勸他們聽警方講反詐騙措施。我感謝大家的關注，這確實帶來一定焦慮。

但這是我們整體反詐騙防禦的重要組成部分，無法迴避，我們也致力通過多種方式加強。問題是：我們還能做些什麼？

首先，讓我們退一步，承認所有國家都認識到，面對詐騙，沒有靈丹妙藥。沒有單一措施能一勞永逸。業內稱之為“棘手問題”。在網路安全和詐騙領域，解決一個問題，壞人就會轉移陣地，必須重新開始。

因此，靈活應對至關重要。一個很好的例子是我們如何迅速轉向應對此前未曾預見的惡意軟體詐騙。說“你應該預見到”很容易，實際操作卻不易。

在此背景下，最重要的是不要將辯論政治化或妖魔化任何群體，因為你不知道下一種詐騙變種出現時，需要與誰合作解決問題。妖魔化任何群體都不是好主意，我們應有意識地避免。這個問題在其他國家也出現過，這是我們吸取的教訓。不要四處妖魔化，指責“你應該這樣做，那樣做”，我們遲早需要他們。保持關係，尋找合作方式更為明智。

因此，在此我認真聆聽了議員們的發言，非常感謝大家。我注意到工人黨議員中多次提及一個詞彙，維克拉姆·奈爾議員也回應了，他不同意所謂“信心危機”的說法。

我不確定這樣描述問題的目的是什麼。我們確實面臨問題，並非常重視。但讓我從機構和官員的角度分享他們的感受。

這有點像前線消防員。你盡一切辦法，首先了解地形，努力撲滅火災，防止蔓延。此時，有一群旁觀者，不是為他們祈禱、鼓勵，而是指責他們“你應該這樣做，那樣做”——說教。

當他們努力撲滅部分火災，準備迎戰下一場火災時，旁觀者卻說：“謝天謝地，我早說過。”你看，多麼了不起！

我對議員們說，請多體諒。這是一場艱難的戰鬥，我認為我們的機構和所有參與者不僅是公務員，也包括私營部門人員。這是艱苦工作。我記得有議員說這工作很不討好，我相信是蘇漢妮女士，我感謝她的認可。讓我們為他們加油。這並不容易。

所以，先生，總體而言，我仍很高興各方支援該動議，並大體避免了作秀。我呼籲議員們利用自己的網路和社交媒體影響力，不要傳播輕率標籤，而是傳播真正能幫助人們的工具意識。我認為這才是更好的社交媒體影響力使用方式。請合理使用。

我懇請所有提出建議的議員，給予我們的機構時間考慮反饋，優先處理最關鍵的事項，因為實際上不是做更多，而是持續做正確的事。任何時候，我們都會推出新措施，同時設計更多措施。事實上，我今天想宣佈三項。

鑑於應用程式是最常見的線上交易方式，我們也需要應用開發者設計安全功能。因此，網路安全域性（CSA）將釋出新的推薦安全應用標準（Standard），建議應用開發者採用，以確保其應用上的高風險貨幣交易安全。

該標準將列出最佳實踐，降低惡意行為者利用應用設計漏洞的風險。例如，應用可設計為在授權高風險交易（如訪問資產或儲蓄）前，要求使用者進行額外身份驗證。

標準還建議開發者在應用中內建惡意軟體檢測功能，因為此功能已被證明能有效阻斷詐騙者利用受感染裝置進行未經授權交易。隨著新技術出現或技術演進，CSA將納入更多有效做法。

CSA還將考慮如何幫助終端使用者輕鬆識別符合該標準的應用。由於該標準是新推出，我們將適時評估其效用，並決定是保持自願採用還是強制執行。

除了人們使用的應用，我們還必須更好保護弱勢群體。為加強防範他們被騙註冊並承擔詐騙電話線路費用，IMDA釋出了保護弱勢消費者的電信公司指導建議。

該建議呼籲採取措施，幫助前線員工在服務註冊時識別弱勢消費者，並處理疑似被利用的案例。指導建議還鼓勵電信公司為受詐騙影響的弱勢消費者免除費用。基於早期案例，內政部（MHA）也在探索更好保護公眾的方式，尤其是那些儘管警方和家人警告仍相信詐騙者的人。

隨著環境演變，我們需要培養新能力，以跟上詐騙者和網路風險的步伐。多位議員提及深度偽造技術被濫用製作誘人宣傳，如近期利用領導人肖像推廣加密貨幣詐騙的廣告。對此我們高度關注。

作為第一步，信息通信媒體發展局（MCI）和新加坡科學技術研究局（A*STAR）將正式啟動線上安全先進技術中心（CATOS）。該中心將成為一個平臺，匯聚我們在新加坡的研究合作伙伴、企業和從業者社群，共同構建更安全的網際網路能力。

這些能力可能包括以下工具和措施：（a）檢測有害內容，如深度偽造和非事實性宣告；（b）注入水印或追蹤數字內容的來源；以及（c）為弱勢群體提供資源，幫助他們核實線上遇到的資訊。

這些研究工作還將有助於為我們正在研究的深度偽造等問題制定新的立法或監管措施。正如陳女士指出的，即使政府和企業付出了大量努力，我們每個人作為個體也必須儘自己的責任，保持網路警惕。

首先，我們應採取措施減輕詐騙風險，即使這些措施看起來不便或過於嚴格。這可能意味著下載並啟用ScamShield應用程式，或為線上服務開啟多因素認證。我們應避免從不熟悉的來源下載應用程式，避免回應承諾保證投資回報或贈品的可疑影片。訪問網站時，個人也應保持警惕，始終檢查瀏覽器位址列中的網址。

我們同意王先生的看法，消費者銀行和通訊服務提供商可以做更多工作，促使使用者養成這些習慣。政府將繼續與關鍵行業參與者合作，進一步加強提高公眾意識的努力。

其次，我們應自我教育，瞭解最新的詐騙趨勢和反詐騙措施，例如ScamAlert.sg上的內容。我們應利用現有工具，在網上交易時做出更明智的決定。這些工具包括電子商務市場交易安全評級（TSR），提供有關電子商務平臺防詐騙安全性的相關資訊。

即使我們繼續努力阻止詐騙和追回損失，也不能忘記受害者所經歷的創傷。我們理解受害者經歷的恐慌和焦慮。因此，新加坡警察部隊（SPF）培訓了志願受害者關懷官，為受害者提供情感和實際支援。SPF網站上的反詐騙資源指南也列出了社群支援的其他途徑。

沙拉爾·塔哈先生建議審查凍結銀行賬戶的流程，凍結時間持續整個調查期間。SPF僅在有理由懷疑銀行賬戶涉及犯罪活動時才會凍結賬戶。調查所需時間因案件而異。

被凍結賬戶的受害者可能會由銀行提供新賬戶，但可能會限制某些功能訪問，或受到加強監控措施。但這些賬戶仍能滿足基本銀行需求，如接收工資和政府補助。受害者也可以向法院申請提取合理生活費或其他合法開支。議長先生，請允許我用中文結束髮言。

議長：部長，您大約有兩分鐘時間。夠用嗎？如果不夠，我建議議會領袖提出——

張玉娟女士：我會控制時間的。

議長：好的，請繼續。

張玉娟女士：（中文發言）[請參見方言發言。]議長先生，首先，我想重申我對陳佩玲女士提出的動議的支援。

新加坡的數字化程序帶來了巨大好處，如為我們的人民和企業創造了新的經濟機會。然而，它也帶來了新的風險，包括許多人關心的數字詐騙。

因此，政府必須使我們的人民能夠乘勢而上，抓住數字化轉型帶來的機遇，同時盡一切可能加強數字領域的安全和信任。

為此，政府優先處理詐騙問題。許多措施已經實施並證明有效。然而，隨著詐騙者不斷演變其手法，我們也必須更新我們的對策。

政府將推出三項新措施，進一步加強防範詐騙的能力。它們是：增強移動應用程式的安全性；為電信公司提供保護弱勢消費者的指導方針；以及努力開發先進技術打擊詐騙。

打擊詐騙沒有靈丹妙藥，政府也無法單獨完成。這是一場需要每個人合作的長期戰鬥。

但我相信，通過持續努力和每個人的貢獻，這場戰鬥最終可以贏得勝利。謝謝。

議長：您還有30秒時間。林秀儀女士。

晚上7時33分

林秀儀女士（亞裕尼） ：謝謝議長。我想回應信息通信媒體發展局部長提到我和同事們關於走向信心危機的說法。

首先，我要明確表示，我的發言並非為了政治化問題或製造恐慌。我的目的是反映我所看到的公眾中相當大一部分的當前情緒。我想提供五個理由，說明我是如何得出這一觀點的。

首先，根據信息通信媒體發展局於去年11月釋出的新加坡數字社會報告，資料顯示，99%的60歲及以上人士擔心成為詐騙受害者。99%，幾乎是該年齡組的全部人群。

其次，今天辯論過程中，我們也聽到議員們談到居民忽視官方通訊，因為他們無法辨別資訊是否真正來自政府，還是詐騙資訊。因此，報名參加“更健康新加坡”的資訊被忽視。

第三，我想我們都知道詐騙損失的統計資料。正如部長本人指出的，儘管現在有大量公眾教育，但這也可能導致公眾感到焦慮，這種焦慮是真實存在的。

第四，我本人收到公眾反饋，有人表達了希望關閉賬戶的願望。這些人可能包括退休人員，涉及他們的公積金交易等。我認為這並非孤立事件。

最後，第五個理由是，隨著新成立的數字基礎設施和服務韌性與安全特別工作組，我相信其目的是監督公眾信心相關事務。

因此，我認為公眾信心確實存在嚴重問題，我提到的這些因素也印證了這一點。我也認可各機構所做的工作——我們並非對此無知。我們當然感激並意識到這是一項重大且全天候的任務。

所以，議長先生，我認為我有權表達我的觀點，就像部長有權表達她的觀點一樣。

張玉娟女士：議長先生，我感謝林女士的澄清。我認為我們每個人都有權表達觀點，這無可置疑。但這根本不是意見問題。只是希望辯論結束後，為了那些無法參與討論的公眾，議員們釋出的資訊不要僅僅使用聳人聽聞、醒目的標題。

我非常希望我們能把努力集中在真正能帶來改變的事情上。這就是我所請求的。我很欣賞各方在這個問題上的共識，也呼籲議員們——讓我們保持這種狀態。這是我們贏得反詐騙戰爭的唯一途徑。

議長：達里爾·大衛先生。

晚上7時37分

達里爾·大衛先生（宏茂橋）：議長先生，今天的動議“建設包容且安全的數字社會”涵蓋範圍非常廣泛。我們確實聽到了從許多不同角度探討這一話題的觀點。

作為文化、社群與青年及教育常設政策委員會副主席，我想聚焦線上傷害問題及其對社群中特定兩組群體——女性和兒童的影響。同時，也從教育角度探討如何通過教育減輕線上傷害的影響。

雖然尚無普遍接受的線上傷害定義，但大致可描述為可能直接或間接對個人造成身體或情感傷害的線上行為，或線上釋出的有害資訊，或通過電子方式傳送給個人的資訊。

越來越多國家意識到線上傷害的危險及其對弱勢群體的負面影響。英國於2023年10月通過《線上安全法案》，保護人們，尤其是兒童免受線上傷害。

新加坡也採取積極措施，通過2022年推出《線上安全行為準則》和《社交媒體服務內容守則》，以及2023年通過《線上刑事傷害法》，如辯論中所提及。

雖然這些行為準則和法規是善意制定的，值得稱讚且非常必要，旨在使網路空間更安全，但它們也較為籠統，可能無法充分反映線上傷害的複雜性。

議長先生，網路世界在許多方面與線下物理世界一樣多樣，甚至更多。線上傷害因其模糊性而難以監管，儘管它們不受歡迎且道德上有問題，但許多行為嚴格來說並不違法。例如，如何定義和監管網路噴子、抵制運動和網路羞辱？不同人對這些行為的理解和解釋可能有所不同，取決於他們是行為的實施者還是受害者。

這些線上行為雖然不違法，但可能導致嚴重的心理壓力、情緒痛苦，降低受害者自我價值感，若長期不加控制，甚至可能導致身體傷害。

我認為迫切需要解決這些非違法但令人痛苦的線上傷害，因為它們更可能在社交媒體平臺上日常發生，影響更廣泛的社群，且比恐怖主義宣傳、兒童性虐待及其他剝削材料等明顯的線上危險更難發現和處理。

我想談談對線上危險和線上傷害進行更細緻分類的必要性。

明顯的線上危險，如恐怖主義宣傳、性剝削和虐待、威脅種族和宗教和諧及公共衛生，與網路跟蹤、身體羞辱、不受歡迎的性騷擾、網路噴子和抵制運動等線上傷害完全不同。因此，將它們歸為同一類不良線上內容，有時可能掩蓋這些線上傷害的性質和影響，降低補救措施的有效性。

世界經濟論壇最近開發了線上傷害分類法，提供了更細緻的劃分，從內容生產、分發、消費以及傷害是否通過與他人互動（基於接觸）或通過技術促成的行為（基於行為）進行分析。

我認為我們需要採用類似方法，在新加坡對線上傷害進行更細緻分類，以建立更健全的監管框架，在學校和社群實施針對性的預防教育，教育新加坡人，尤其是女性和兒童，抵禦線上傷害，並通過與民間社會及其他團體合作，提供以受害者為中心的下游補救支援，包括法律和非法律援助。

議長先生，一項由RySense、陽光行動聯盟和信息通信媒體發展局聯合進行的最新研究顯示，近50%的樣本經歷過某種形式的線上傷害——不出意外，女性更不安全，更可能成為線上傷害的目標。令人擔憂的是，受害者不願尋求補救，前三大原因是：（a）認為因網際網路匿名性，施害者不會被追究；（b）社交媒體平臺的舉報渠道無效；（c）受害者不知道該怎麼辦。

另外，SG Her Empowerment釋出的《10個線上傷害誤區》報告指出，25至34歲的女性更易遭受線上傷害，且相當一部分年輕人認為線上傷害不如線下嚴重，且只要離線就會停止。令人擔憂的是，還有年輕人認為上傳圖片的女性應接受負面評論，甚至認為未請求的色情圖片是可以接受的。這些觀念令人不安。

這兩項研究結果發人深省。

首先，它們表明線上傷害的實際受害者可能比我們想象的更多，因為許多受害者不願披露經歷，認為披露和舉報對他們的遭遇無濟於事。

其次，結果也表明，不僅公眾對這些傷害缺乏認識，年輕人對這些傷害可能帶來的後果也存在一定程度的冷漠，諷刺的是，他們自己更可能成為此類行為的目標。

進一步說，缺乏認識和冷漠可能導致年輕人無意中成為此類行為的施害者。

議長先生，我認為我們需要通過以受害者為中心的教育和補救措施，遏制和消除受害者和年輕人中的這些錯誤觀念。

首先，我鼓勵教育部為學生建立強制性的線上學習模組，使他們更好地理解線上傷害的錯誤內容性質，瞭解其傳播和消費如何給受害者帶來痛苦和傷害，以及如果成為受害者應尋求何種幫助。就像一些公司要求員工完成年度強制性個人資料保護法（PDPA）電子學習和測驗一樣，也許新加坡所有達到一定年齡的學生都必須完成該模組，並在線上傷害測驗中取得最低分數。

其次，我希望我們能對線上傷害的施害者採取更嚴厲的立場，考慮到這些傷害對受害者可能造成的長期創傷影響。當社交媒體平臺刪除被認定的冒犯性內容時，是否可以考慮禁止或限制相關IP地址訪問平臺或建立新賬戶？

第三，目前我認為只有一個專門機構——SG Her Empowerment，提供線上傷害受害者援助。政府是否考慮與其他民間社會團體，尤其是社群團體合作，為線上傷害受害者提供更多求助渠道？

為了進一步鼓勵線上傷害受害者尋求幫助，並增強他們對施害者將被追究的信心，政府是否考慮與社交媒體平臺合作，編制年度報告，統計報告的線上傷害案件數量、採取的成功行動數量、對施害者採取的行動型別及年度定罪數量？

我相信公佈這些統計資料及已定罪施害者的身份，將使受害者確信他們的聲音被聽見，且將採取行動保障他們的網路安全。

議長先生，新加坡一直是應對網際網路潛在傷害的先行者。我們早在2017年就認真審視了打擊假新聞的現有法律。2019年通過《防止網路虛假資訊和操縱法案》，成為全球首批立法應對網路虛假資訊的國家之一，因此我們在該領域處於領先地位。

隨著生成式人工智慧和深度偽造開啟線上傷害的新領域，我認為現在正是調整我們對線上傷害態度的時機，認真對待這些問題，從而打造一個不僅包容而且安全的數字社群。至此，我堅定支援該動議，結束髮言。

議長：陳佩玲女士。等一下。梁文輝先生，您有澄清嗎？澄清應簡短，不宜演講。

晚上7時47分

梁文輝先生（非選區議員）：謝謝議長先生。我只有一個問題想問張玉娟部長。

我很高興許多議員指出，數字包容性也意味著確保數字系統具有包容性和使用者友好性，而非僅為企業謀取利潤。這確實是我的同事包慧珊女士代表人民行動黨提出的核心立場。

鑑於此，我想請教部長，針對我們今天討論和辯論的數字包容性問題，她將如何回應，以及她將如何回應新加坡民眾對SimplyGo的諸多負面反饋。像SimplyGo這樣的事件，長期來看會影響公眾對數字系統的信任。

Josephine Teo女士：議長先生，我邀請梁先生提交一份國會質詢。我認為這樣更合適，這樣才能給予一個恰當的回應。

議長先生：我同意。田佩玲女士。

晚上7點49分

田佩玲女士（麥士威選區）：先生，能在本院就通過全民參與的方式，建立一個安全且包容的數字社會以維持信任進行辯論，是我的莫大榮幸。

我們的人民行動黨議員Jessica Tan女士、Sharael Taha先生、Hany Soh女士、Nadia Samdin女士、Wan Rizal博士、葉漢榮先生、Mariam Jaafar女士、Vikram Nair先生和Darryl David先生共提出了13項行動呼籲，如果深入探討這些呼籲，會發現更多內容，呼籲政府、業界參與者以及像你我這樣的個人，在新加坡繼續邁向數字未來的過程中，發揮更積極的作用，確保線上環境的安全和包容。我感謝我的國會議員同事們為這些呼籲所做的努力。

過去的國會會議中，來自兩黨陣營的同事們都提出了關於數字化帶來的機遇與風險的不同問題和建議。因此，我很高興今天我們在本院就這項動議進行了激烈的辯論，更重要的是，我很高興看到兩黨陣營對通訊及資訊全體黨團委員會提出的動議給予了支援的呼聲。

我衷心感謝工人黨成員，特別是林淑儀女士、林占梅副教授和嚴傑理先生，以及進步新加坡黨成員，包慧珊女士，當然還有我們的提名議員，拉茲瓦娜·貝古姆·阿卜杜勒·拉希姆副教授、王華漢先生、烏莎·錢德拉達斯女士、李馬克先生和施珍女士，在這次動議辯論中的興趣和支援。

我不會逐一回顧每個人的觀點和建議，但我從在座各位那裡獲得了寶貴的見解。

通過辯論，我們清楚地看到，新加坡並非唯一面臨數字化帶來挑戰的國家。詐騙和網路傷害等問題是全球性的問題。像美國、英國和歐洲這樣的發達經濟體，也仍在努力更好地理解這些問題，並制定應對措施和保障機制，以更好地保護其公民，鑑於這些風險和挑戰的不斷演變。

鑑於此，聽了Josephine Teo部長和高階國務部長陳杰輝早前的發言，我相信我們現在可以更放心，因為政府已經採取了許多舉措和保障措施，來保護和支援我們的公民參與數字經濟和數字社會。

這些措施包括整合資源和專業知識、工具、守則和立法，以應對詐騙、有害網路內容、錯誤資訊和資料保護，以及提供財政援助和支援計劃，促進數字接入並賦能弱勢群體。

鑑於在不同時間點實施了許多舉措，有些已公開，有些未公開，有時公眾容易誤解政府行動緩慢、鬆懈、不關心，只偏袒商業或金錢。但通過這次辯論，我很高興看到政府已建立了一整套措施來檢測、威懾和保護新加坡人。整體情況現在清晰得多。

因此，與其說新加坡對數字化存在“信心危機”，不如說新加坡在應對挑戰方面一直積極主動，而一些發達國家實際上認為這樣做是不可想象的。

我尤其感激政府對我們13項行動呼籲持開放態度，並承諾採取行動。

歸根結底，本院兩黨都不否認數字化已經並將繼續為我們的國家和人民帶來益處。

但我們必須管理風險，我們也會這樣做，因為如果我們因擔心所有可能的後果而停止前進和生活，那將是非常不利的。我還要補充，我們也需要認識到必須取得平衡。雖然我們希望嚴格管理風險，防止對人民造成傷害，但我們也要確保不對數字交易或有意義的創新增加不成比例的阻力。因此，我們也要注意權衡利弊。

儘管如此，我們仍需做更多。如果每個人都願意承擔更多責任，我們就能保護更多人，減少普通公民可能遭受的傷害。

（中文）：[請參閱方言發言。]剛才我提到了數字轉型帶來的機遇和挑戰。網路傷害也在迅速演變，正如中國諺語所說，“高處不勝寒”。我希望通過政府、企業和人民的共同努力，我們能夠戰勝這些日益複雜的“魔鬼”，從而建立一個包容且安全、充滿深厚信任的數字社會。

（英文）：最後，我想呼應我的國會議員同事們在本次辯論中闡述的觀點。通過政府、業界參與者和人民之間更緊密的合作伙伴關係，新加坡可以成為燈塔，引領世界通過安全且包容的數字社會，促進對數字未來的信任。[掌聲]

議長先生：田女士，有需要澄清的問題嗎？沒有。

[(程式文本) 提出問題，並獲得通過。 (程式文本)]

[(程式文本) 決議，“本院重申承諾採取全民參與的方式，通過建設包容且安全的數字社會來維持信任。” (程式文本)]

議長先生：議會領袖。

英文原文

SPRS Hansard · Fetched: 2026-05-02

[(proc text) Debate resumed. (proc text)]

Mr Speaker : Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How.

6.24 pm

The Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information (Mr Tan Kiat How) : Sir, I rise in support of the Motion in the name of Ms Tin Pei Ling.

I thank Members for their thoughtful suggestions on building a safe and inclusive digital society. I will speak on the topic of digital inclusion and Minister Josephine Teo will speak on issues related to digital trust and safety.

With your permission, Sir, may I ask the Clerk to distribute to Members supplementary materials on the topics that Minister Josephine Teo and I will cover today. Members may also access the handout through the MP@SG Parl mobile app.

Mr Speaker : Please proceed. [ Copies of handouts distributed to hon Members .]

Mr Tan Kiat How : Sir, let me first address Members' points on the impact of digitalisation on the workforce and on mental health and well-being.

Ms Tin Pei Ling, Mr Sharael Taha and Mr Mark Lee asked about the impact of digitalisation, especially the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on our workforce and our SMEs and our businesses.

The field of AI, generative AI, in particular, is evolving rapidly. Analysts' predictions on the impact of AI on the workforce and industries vary greatly and sometimes, even contradict each other. But there is broad consensus that AI is here and its development will have profound effects on the world and the certainly for us on this little red dot.

We should not be overly fearful or be overly anxious of this trend. Instead, we should confidently embrace the possibilities with AI. The competition is not between "man" and "machine" but which economy and society can better use technology to improve our competitiveness and our lives.

Singapore is well placed to harness the power of AI, as we have done in previous waves of technological change. The Government's approach has always been to support our businesses and workers to adapt to changes so that they can fully benefit from the opportunities that digital technologies can bring. Some examples include how we are using Jobs Transformation Maps (JTMs), which are specific to different sectors, help employers and workers understand and prepare themselves for future tech-enabled job roles. SkillsFuture and Workforce Singapore offer programmes to support workers to upskill and reskill to take on new jobs. For those who wish to transit to tech roles, they can tap on IMDA's TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) programme. The Government will continue to work with our tripartite partners, including our Labour unions on this important effort as suggested by Ms Jean See, Mr Sharael Taha and Mr Mark Lee.

Dr Wan Rizal raised the issue of the impact of technology on mental health and well-being. This House will have a fuller discussion on this topic during the Motion on "Advancing Mental Health" next month. So, let me just broadly touch on MCI's approach on this issue.

MCI recognises that technology and social media use can have grave impact on mental health and well-being. As Dr Wan Rizal, Assoc Prof Razwana Begum, Ms Nadia Samdin as well as Ms Mariam Jaafar had mentioned, such risks include exposure to harmful online content, such as cyberbullying and self-harm content, as well as excessive and problematic use of social media. To mitigate these risks to Singaporean users, MCI has introduced regulatory measures to enhance online safety for users, which Minister Josephine Teo will touch on later.

We also work with partners across the public, private and people sectors to raise awareness amongst Singaporeans on online safety and good practices on using technology in a healthy and balanced manner. For example, we work with the Ministry of Education (MOE) to strengthen cyber wellness education in schools, teaching students to be discerning, safe, respectful and responsible users of the online space. They are also taught the importance of respect and empathy, how they can protect themselves and others online and to seek help when necessary.

Dr Wan Rizal also spoke about the role of parents. We agree that parents play a crucial role in guiding their children's digital journey, especially at the early stages. We work with partners, such as the Media Literacy Council, to develop resources for parents and caregivers.

MCI has also worked with technology companies to launch an Online Safety Digital Toolkit in March last year, which guides parents to make use of the parental controls, privacy and reporting tools, as well as self-help resources on the social media platforms.

Collectively, these efforts aim to make the online space safer for all and empower individuals with the know-how to protect themselves and their loved ones and it is an ongoing journey. We will continue to work with partners in this effort.

Sir, let me turn to the theme of digital inclusion. Members have made many good points on how digitalisation has brought benefits and opportunities to Singaporeans. Indeed, as a little red dot with scarce natural resources, we cannot afford to unplug from the global digital economy, especially when others are actively pursuing strategies to be more digital, including leveraging emerging technologies like AI.

Therefore, our aim has always been to make digital work for all so that every Singaporean can benefit. I am glad that all Members share this belief.

Mr Yip Hon Weng, Ms Jessica Tan, Mr Ong Hua Han and Ms Usha Chandradas spoke about some of the challenges that Singaporeans face when going digital. I can relate to these points. I meet many Singaporeans in similar circumstances in my walkabouts, Meet-the-People Sessions as well as many focus groups.

Making digital work for all is not just about going digital, but also recognising that some Singaporeans still prefer non-digital options for certain transactions. Our approach is therefore not digital only for all. An example is CDC Vouchers, which Ms Jessica Tan mentioned earlier. Within a week of the launch, 80% of the 1.27 million Singaporean households have claimed their vouchers. I believe most Singaporeans claimed their CDC Vouchers digitally.

However, those who prefer to use physical vouchers can visit Community Centres to print hard copy vouchers. To better support residents, student volunteers, Silver Infocomm Wellness Ambassadors and our Digital Ambassadors are on hand to help.

Singaporeans who need in-person support for Government services can visit one of our seven ServiceSG Centres. The Centres can help with close to 600 Government services and schemes. Last year, close to 400,000 transactions for services such as Singpass applications, CPF and IRAS services were completed at ServiceSG Centres.

Making digital work for all also means supporting all Singaporeans, regardless of their circumstances, to benefit from digitalisation. It is often said that the measure of a society is how it looks after its most vulnerable. We are taking steps to support those who need more help to benefit from going digital.

In this regard, we are building on a solid foundation. Last year, IMDA released the inaugural Singapore Digital Society report as a stocktake of our efforts. We have made good progress over the years. We are one of the most digitally connected countries in the world. Our digital inclusion efforts are well regarded internationally. Singapore has ranked first on the Inclusive Internet Index from 2018, to the latest report released in 2022.

These datapoints show that we are on the right track. But we are not resting on our laurels. I thank Members for their valuable suggestions on how we can better support lower-income households, small businesses, seniors and persons with disabilities with digitalisation.

Let me touch on some of our efforts.

Mr Sharael Taha stressed the importance of supporting lower-income households with digital connectivity. IMDA introduced the DigitalAccess@Home scheme in April last year to support lower-income households with subsidised broadband and digital devices through a simplified and streamlined application process. Since then, we have supported about 6,800 households.

In particular, together with preceding schemes like NEU PC Plus, we have supported a total of 26,000 households with school-going children with access to digital devices over the last three years. [ Please refer to " Clarification by Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information ", Official Report, 10 January 2024, Vol 95, Issue 119, Correction By Written Statement section. ]

Currently, 98% of resident households with school-going children have computer access. We will continue to support the remaining 2% through schemes like DigitalAccess@Home. This complements efforts by MOE and schools to support students' home-based learning by providing school-prescribed personal learning devices to secondary school students under the National Digital Literacy Programme. In addition, schools loan computers and internet-enabling devices to students who require them for school work.

We will continue to work with schools and our community partners to reach out to all families with school-going children.

We also introduced the Mobile Access for Seniors scheme in June 2020 to provide lower-income seniors with subsidised smartphones and mobile data plans along with training. Since 2020, over 11,000 lower-income seniors have benefited.

Importantly, industry and community partners play a big part to support digital access for lower-income households. For example, SG Bono, a non-profit organisation refurbishes donated laptops for use by lower-income families, especially those with school-going children. I am particularly glad to know that SG Bono extended this support to madrasah students from lower-income households since 2021.

Mr Vikram Nair spoke about hawkers. It is another group of microbusinesses or Singaporeans that we are supporting through the Hawkers Go Digital programme. As of November last year, more than 11,000 stallholders, which is around 60% of all hawkers, have adopted e-payments via the Singapore Quick Response Code (SGQR) platform. Under this programme, SGQR has facilitated an average of 5.1 million transactions worth $42 million per month between June and November last year.

In addition to SGQR and e-payments, this digitalisation support to hawkers and heartland merchants give them the confidence to come onboard other digital initiatives such as the CDC Vouchers.

I am very encouraged to see many stories of how these heartland merchants and small businesses have further built on this foundation and gone further to transform their business models and capture the opportunities of e-commerce.

Mr Yip Hon Weng, Mr Ong Hua Han and others spoke about the Seniors Go Digital programme and asked about the progress.

The Seniors Go Digital programme was set up to equip seniors with basic digital skills so that they too can be part of a digital society and enjoy the benefits of going digital. At the time of the programme's inception in 2020, the need was particularly pressing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, we have conducted training for over 280,000 seniors.

Uptick in seniors' adoption of digital skills has improved over time. For example, in 2022, 86% of seniors knew how to find information online, a 29% increase from just three years ago in 2019. I am always inspired by our seniors who gamely picked up digital skills even though it can be challenging at the outset. This is a testament to their spirit of lifelong learning and the dedication of SDO's Digital Ambassadors, our Silver Infocomm Wellness Ambassadors as well as family and friends who patiently guide seniors on their digitalisation journey.

Singaporeans who want to learn digital skills can visit one of the 37 SG Digital Community Hubs islandwide and they can visit one of the more than 200 roving counters in our workplaces, healthcare institutions and community spaces.

Another aspect is designing services inclusively, with the needs of specific groups in mind. Ms Nadia Samdin and Mr Ong Hua Han spoke about supporting persons with disabilities. In particular, I would like to thank Mr Ong for his feedback on behalf of the deaf and the visually impaired communities, and for his thoughtful suggestions.

We are making progress towards our goal of making all high traffic Government websites fully accessible to persons with disabilities by 2030. We have increased the percentage of high traffic Government websites which are fully accessible from 61% in 2022 to 73% last year.

Mr Ong Hua Han mentioned that we have introduced sign language interpretation for key national events and critical public announcements to improve access to information of national importance. Today, 61% of free-to-air TV programmes carry subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences. We are working with Mediacorp to achieve our target of 70% coverage of free-to-air TV broadcasts accessible through sign language interpretation, captioning or subtitling by 2030.

Ms Nadia Samdin raised the importance of supporting persons with disabilities with assistive technology and learning digital skills. Persons with disabilities who need assistive technology, such as a specialised keyboard and mouse, can tap on the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF)'s Assistive Technology Fund, which provides individuals with a means-tested subsidy of up to 90% of the cost of assistive technology devices, subject to a lifetime cap of $40,000. The fund can be used to acquire, replace, upgrade or repair those devices.

They can also receive assessment and training in the use of these devices at Tech Able, which is an assistive technology centre jointly managed by SG Enable and the disability social service agency, SPD, at the Enabling Village. The Digital Enablement Programme, which Ms Nadia Samdin mentioned, is a Digital for Life (DfL)-funded programme which supports persons with disabilities with essential digital skills for a world of hybrid work. As of March 2023, the programme has supported 200 training places.

I agree with Mr Ong Hua Han that industry partners, especially those providing essential services, must play their part to enhance the accessibility of their services.

We are lowering the adoption barriers for industry partners through providing resources and tools. SG Enable provides e-accessibility training and consultancy services for companies to learn how e-accessibility features can be incorporated into their digital services. The GovTech Accessibility Enabling Team (ALLY) has developed Purple ALLY, a free and open-sourced testing tool for digital teams to check how they can make their digital products or services more accessible.

Mr Ong also asked if we can ensure that future digital infrastructure designers and programmers are exposed to digital accessibility. We will continue to work with our Institutes of Higher Learning on this. For example, students in the Diploma in Design at Ngee Ann Polytechnic design electronic devices to support users with disabilities as part of their curriculum. We will continue to work with Institutes of Higher Learning to incorporate some of these considerations into their curriculum.

I encourage industry partners to make use of these resources and do more to make their services accessible to all Singaporeans.

At the same time, I commend the spirit of Mr Ong's remarks and suggestions. All of us, as a society, can do more to make our digital services and products more inclusive. As a first step, it is oftentimes understanding where each other is coming from and how we can take pragmatic steps to achieve that. In that regard, I would certainly love to invite Mr Ong to address and speak to many of our community partners on this aspect. We will reach out after this Sitting.

This brings me to my next point. The Government cannot do this on our own. I am glad many Members – Ms Hany Soh, Mr Ong Hua Han, Ms Usha Chandradas and others – emphasised that this is a whole-of-nation effort. The Government, corporates, communities and individuals must come together to support different groups who need help on their journeys.

The Digital for Life movement launched in 2021 is an important part of this collective effort. And it is making encouraging progress, bringing together three key partners – the public sector, private sector and people sector – for this common cause.

Over 140 DfL partners have reached out to more than 270,000 beneficiaries. Partners have also come forward to generously contribute some $14 million to the DfL Fund, which supports digital inclusion efforts, including ground-up projects from the community.

I am heartened that there are many who are willing to step forward to support their fellow Singaporeans. I encourage more partners to step forward and work together with us.

For example, Ms Usha shared examples of how we can better involve members of the arts community in our digital inclusion effort. We will certainly reach out to them.

Sir, we have made good progress to enhance access to digital connectivity and services. But access alone is not enough. After all, what good is connectivity and a digital device if we do not have the skills to use them for our benefit? Ms Mariam Jaafar spoke about AI literacy and Mr Sharael Taha spoke about how we must give all Singaporeans, especially students from lower-income families, opportunities. I agree with them.

MOE launched the Transforming Education through Technology plan in September last year to further strengthen students' development of digital literacy and technological skills, starting with AI literacy. Yesterday, MOE has also responded to questions from Members on opportunities for our students to learn about AI.

Together with MOE, we introduced the Code For Fun (CFF) programme to expose students to coding and computational thinking. Since 2020, it has been mandatory for all upper primary school students to go through CFF or a comparable coding programme.

As technology continues to evolve, IMDA and MOE will review the CFF enrichment programme to ensure that it is relevant and up to date. We are working towards introducing new content on AI and data literacy in the refreshed curriculum for 2025.

Outside schools, there are many opportunities for students, young people and members of the public to explore new technology. For instance, community partners like SGBono and VIVITA have been collaborating with the Bedok Social Service Office to bring tech experiences closer to children from less privileged backgrounds who typically would not have such opportunities. Earlier, Members raised many good initiatives in the community.

For the general public, we have programmes like ExperienceIT and MakeIT at our libraries. These showcase emerging technologies and innovations, such as AI, machine learning and 3D printing, through informative displays and hands-on activities. So, please check out these exhibits and showcases at your nearest library.

At the same time, we recognise that some of us may not be ready to take on the more advanced digital skills. We may want to focus first on building the fundamentals to go online safely and use digital services and tools confidently in our daily lives.

To support this, IMDA will launch Digital Skills for Life (DSL) today. In the handout distributed, Members will find a factsheet with more details on DSL. Unlike existing frameworks to equip Singaporeans with digital skills for the workplace or specific sectors, DSL outlines the digital skills to enable Singaporeans to carry out day-to-day tasks online. We have referenced overseas examples and got inputs from experts. But more importantly, we heard from Singaporeans themselves. We learned from our insights from reaching out to more than 280,000 seniors through the Seniors Go Digital programme over the last three years and I would like to especially thank the 16,000 learners who were part of the pilot last year for their valuable feedback.

The DSL framework covers five competencies. Firstly, setting up and using smart devices, how to operate the basic functions on our devices. Secondly, exploring information online. Through the Internet, we can access limitless information and new opportunities. But we need to know how to search, view and retrieve this information safely for our use. Thirdly, communicating online with others. Fourthly, transacting online for greater convenience – accessing banking and Government services, booking healthcare appointments, just to name a few examples. And importantly, fifth, being safe, smart and kind online – understanding how to keep ourselves safe from scams and false information and how to build a positive presence online.

These are all practical skills that can make a real difference to Singaporeans' day-to-day lives. Let me share one example. A few years ago, I met an elderly lady at the SG Digital Community Hub at Heartbeat@Bedok. She was asking our Digital Ambassador many questions on how to use her smartphone and I saw her taking copious notes down on a small, little notepad. She was probably around her late fifties and early sixties, speaking in Mandarin. When I asked what she was learning, her answer both surprised and inspired me. She said that she was a victim of an online scam and she lost some money. She was there to learn how to make sure that this would not happen to her again. So, instead of being fearful and withdrawing, she wanted to confront the issue head on by learning how to safeguard herself.

There are many seniors like that. The Digital Ambassador at the Hub patiently walked her through practical cybersecurity tips that would be useful for all of us. For example, how to create a stronger password instead of just using the default password "Password" which scammers could easily guess. I was most heartened by her resilient spirit and willingness to learn, and we want to support Singaporeans like her with the right tools, resources and competencies to pick up the skills they need.

To do so, we are collaborating with partners under the DfL movement to develop resources in line with the DSL framework. Interested learners can access in-person learning at the SG Digital Community Hubs where Digital Ambassadors and Silver Infocomm Wellness Ambassadors will walk alongside less-digitally savvy Singaporeans on their journeys. Learners can also learn at your own pace and access videos and guidebooks on the Digital for Life Portal. Those who are keen to help their family and friends pick up skills can use these resources to teach them. The digital resources in English will be rolled out progressively from this month, and resources in Mandarin, Malay and Tamil will be available by the first half of this year.

Sir, let me say a few words in Mandarin.

( In Mandarin ) : [ Please refer to Vernacular Speech .] Digital Skills for Life (DSL) is a bottom-up movement, and we hope to see more partners and organisations join in, pooling our efforts to achieve success together.

We will make the relevant content and other teaching materials available online for partners to use for free. This is a small contribution to the global digitalisation process.

Our partners can refer to these resources when conducting digital skills training. They can also use innovative ways to help learning and further promote the DSL movement. For example, turning materials into games to make children's learning more interesting and vivid, or creating audio and video content in dialects to introduce the five basic skills to the elderly.

I hope that everyone will make good use of these resources to benefit more Singaporeans.

The DSL framework is a starting point to help Singaporeans embark on their digital journey. Just as we start learning to write by mastering each stroke, acquiring digital skills must also start from the very basic level. With a solid foundation, as digital technology advances, we will be more confident in learning new skills and keeping up with the times.

We will regularly review this framework to ensure that the content it covers meets our current needs.

( In English ): Let me conclude. Over the years we have made great strides to build our vision of an inclusive and safe digital society. We have a strong "hardware" foundation in terms of access to devices and broadband connectivity. We are strengthening our "software" layer by building up Singaporeans' skills and competencies to navigate the online space safely and confidently to fully benefit from exciting digital opportunities.

However, as many Members have spoken passionately about, we must aspire to go beyond the "hardware" and "software", and nurture our "heartware" on how we treat one another and to foster a kinder online space for all where we make an effort to listen with the aim to understand, instead of shouting to press across our point; where we make an effort to respect another person's viewpoints and find common ground even if we disagree on certain issues; where we make an effort to offer a kind word, instead of joining in to spread negativity.

In our physical world, we are comfortable to let our loved ones walk freely down the street, trusting that they will have pleasant interactions with people and not have to look over their shoulders for threats. We trust that there are norms which govern how we conduct ourselves and interact with one another. We must aspire to bring this to the online space as well where our seniors will be able to go online safely without anxiety; where our children can go online confidently without having the fear of cyberbullying or encountering harmful online content.

But it is all up to us to keep our digital streets safe. Each one of us can play our part to build a safer, more inclusive and kinder digital society. With that, Sir, I support the Motion.

Mr Speaker : Minister Josephine Teo.

The Minister for Communications and Information (Mrs Josephine Teo) : Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Motion in the name of Ms Tin Pei Ling and thank her, together with Mr Sharael Taha, Ms Hany Soh, Ms Jessica Tan and Mr Alex Yam, for drawing attention to this important topic.

When the Smart Nation Initiative was launched in 2014, we envisioned Singapore as "a nation where people live meaningful and fulfilled lives, enabled seamlessly by technology, offering exciting opportunities for all."

A decade on, this vision has certainly come alive. Technology has become a big part of our daily lives and 84% of Singaporeans say they have benefited in one way or another. Of every $100 value-added in our economy, at least $17 can now be attributed to digital-related activities. It amounted to $106 billion in 2022, more than financial services and insurance, and comparable with wholesale trade.

There are, today, more than 200,000 tech jobs in Singapore, earning median wages that are higher than that of the resident workforce. Although they represent just over 5% of all jobs, there are thousands more across all other sectors that have been enhanced by digital technologies.

Our aim must be for all Singaporeans to gain from these developments. Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How has spoken about digital inclusion and the Government's efforts to ensure that benefits are felt by all segments of society.

At the same time, our digital way of life has exposed us to new risks. Cyberattacks, scams and harmful content pose a growing threat to our safety and security. As many Members have noted, trust in society, so crucial for normal human interactions, could be undermined.

I will focus my speech on two topics specifically. The first is what we have we done so far to protect Singaporeans in the digital domain; and the second, what more we need to keep people safe.

Sir, in most domains, Singapore could learn from the examples of many other countries when designing our own governance approach. Unfortunately, in the digital domain, there are few ready playbooks with proven solutions. In fact, Singapore is considered an early mover in digital governance and has been recognised as such.

Mr Mark Lee spoke about the need for our businesses to protect and handle customer information ethically. We moved to address this issue more than a decade ago. In 2012, we introduced the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), before the EU's General Data Protection Regulation. By 2020, we had amended the Act to strengthen organisational accountability and consumer protection, while bolstering confidence for using personal data for innovation. In 2018, we enacted the Cybersecurity Act to address the threats in cyberspace, particularly those faced by our critical information infrastructure (CII).

Beyond protecting our CII, we have also introduced initiatives to help businesses enhance their cybersecurity posture. Mr Lee recommended developing sector-specific resources. We agree. In the next phase of the SG Cyber Safe Programme for enterprises, CSA will introduce sector-specific cybersecurity initiatives, starting with healthcare and manufacturing.

Also, I had previously announced that we expect to update the Cybersecurity Act so that it remains fit-for-purpose. Public consultations on the proposed amendments are ongoing.

In 2019, recognising the harms of misinformation, we introduced the Prevention of Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA). As a small, multiracial, and multi-religious country, Singapore is particularly vulnerable to falsehoods that deepen fault lines and polarise society. POFMA is a calibrated tool to safeguard the infrastructure of fact. Its usefulness was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, to defend against all kinds of falsehoods about vaccines and COVID-19 related deaths.

In 2021, to counter potential hostile information campaigns launched by other states against us, we introduced the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Act (FICA). This helps to ensure that Singapore politics remains only for Singaporeans.

Dr Wan Rizal, Ms Mariam Jaafar and Ms Nadia Samdin spoke about the risks of children being exposed to harmful content online. We have also introduced measures to tackle this. In July 2023, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) launched the Code of Practice for Online Safety. It requires social media services with significant reach or impact in Singapore to put in place measures to minimise users' exposure to harmful content on their platforms. These include additional measures to protect children below-18 years old.

Dr Rizal and Ms Nadia suggested that platforms implement age assurance measures. There is currently no foolproof measure to prevent false age declarations on social media platforms. But the technology has improved. Today, age assurance is achievable to a fairly high degree of accuracy without compromising privacy. MCI and IMDA are monitoring the developments and will study viable regulatory options to better protect children online through age assurance measures.

I am aware that Mr Darryl David will speak about addressing online dangers such as cyber stalking and body shaming, and providing support for victims. Currently, online harassment and doxxing are dealt with under the Protection from Harassment Act 2014. Victims can seek redress through the Protection from Harassment Court, which has served thousands since it was set up in 2021.

The Ministry of Law (MinLaw) is looking further into how victims can be better empowered to put a stop to such online harms, and to seek redress from those responsible. MinLaw's efforts will complement MCI's efforts to enhance the Government's regulatory tool kit, as well as the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)'s efforts to address online criminal harms, which I will say more about later.

Sir, from what I have cited, Members will see that we have actively and progressively introduced new laws and regulations for digital governance. We have consciously avoided a big-bang approach, choosing instead an accretive approach to understand the issues deeply and to move quickly when we identify measures that are likely to be effective.

Where solutions are untested, we have not held back completely. Instead, we have introduced model frameworks or advisory guidelines for voluntary adoption.

We have also developed practical tools to help organisations meet their regulatory obligations, or raised governance standards. This will remain Singapore's approach to digital governance for the foreseeable future. It was, in fact, how we dealt with AI governance. I thank Dr Rizal, Mr Jamus Lim and Ms Mariam for emphasising the importance of responsible AI use and development.

Members may recall that even before we launched our first National AI Strategy or NAIS in 2019, we had introduced a Model AI Governance Framework or MGF – the first of its kind in the region. In 2021, Singapore became one of the first in the world to develop a testing framework and software toolkit for safe and responsible AI, which we call AI Verify.

More recently, we committed to develop Advisory Guidelines on the use of personal data in AI systems, including safeguards to protect personal data of vulnerable groups like children.

Global conversations on AI governance are important. Singapore will continue to participate actively at international fora, such as the Global Partnership on AI and the United Nations' High Level Advisory Board on AI.

As mentioned by Ms Tan and Ms Mariam, we have refreshed our AI strategies through NAIS 2.0. We will soon update our recommendations on dealing with AI risks. For example, we are very concerned about the mis-use of generative AI to spread misinformation and carry out targeted scams.

Mitigating biasness and enhancing the explainability of AI models are also crucial to developing and deploying them responsibly. We aim to release MGF 2.0 for public consultation later this month.

Of all the risks in the digital domain, one category is particularly concerning – and they are scams. This was an issue raised by almost all MPs.

Recent concerns about scams may sound new, but are in fact very similar to past cases of fraud. Older Singaporeans may remember the sale of fake insurance policies in the 1970s. In 2006, Sunshine Empire, which disguised itself as a multi-level marketing company, operated a Ponzi Scheme that promised high returns on fake products and services. In the early 2010s, the SureWin4U Ponzi Scheme lured victims to invest in betting schemes against casinos.

These days, scammers use technology to sell fake jobs, fake love and fake discounted items like eggs or holiday packages. Through variety, speed and scale, they have claimed more victims than before. Whenever I speak with a scam victim and hear their harrowing experience, I am reminded of a very similar panic I experienced as a child.

Back in the 1970s, I lived with my grandmother in an old shophouse in Joo Chiat. On several occasions, we were awakened in the middle of the night to nearby shouts of "Fire! Fire!". We had very little clue as to how far and fast the fire might reach us, only that we must be ready to run for our lives. This kind of fear and helplessness, you never forget.

Today, fire hazards have largely been brought under control and most fire incidents have moderate impact. This is because we have well-trained and well-equipped firefighters to contain fires that do break out. There are regulations, including the Fire Safety Code, to prevent potential fire incidents. We also have the support of organisations and citizens alike, who do their part to create and maintain an environment safe from fires.

In many ways, we are fighting scams like how we successfully fought fires. We have invested resources to strengthen our capabilities to contain the impact of emerging scam campaigns. Two years ago, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) established the Anti-Scam Command (ASCom). This helps to facilitate the swift tracing of funds and freezing of scam-tainted bank accounts. In the first half of 2023, the ASCom froze over 9,000 bank accounts and recovered about $50.8 million of the victims' losses.

We have also put in place tools to limit losses for victims, much like the use of retardants to slow the spread of fires.

Banks have implemented an emergency "kill-switch", so customers can quickly suspend their accounts if they suspect compromise. In November last year, several banks implemented a "Money Lock" feature, allowing customers to set aside an amount in their bank accounts that cannot be transferred digitally.

Another recent example is the lower default daily limit for online CPF withdrawals, which cannot be increased without strong user authentication. Members can also disable online CPF withdrawals easily by activating the CPF Withdrawal Lock, which instantly reduces this limit to $0.

Sir, these containment efforts are helpful but we really prefer to prevent the scams from happening in the first place. Preventive safeguards are easier said than done, as they require close coordination with industry. Several sets of measures have been or are being implemented.

First, we will keep closing off known avenues for scammers to reach prospective victims. Members will recall that not too long ago, scammers were spoofing the SMS IDs of key organisations to trick victims into giving their banking credentials. To counter this, IMDA introduced a novel solution. From January last year, all organisations that want to send SMSes using alphanumeric sender IDs had to register with the Singapore SMS Sender ID Registry (SSIR). SMSes from unregistered senders are labelled "Likely-SCAM" to alert phone users.

The SSIR has been effective. Cases of scam SMSes fell by 70% in the first three months that it was mandated and remain a minority – less than 5% – among new cases reported. Additionally, telcos have implemented firewalls within their networks to proactively block suspicious calls and calls that attempt to spoof local numbers. These efforts have also been helpful. The volume of suspicious international calls blocked in 2023 has nearly doubled compared to a year ago. To further protect the public, telcos have now introduced an option for subscribers to block their mobile phones from receiving international calls, which is a common source of scam calls.

Sir, whilst we can introduce blocking measures, we must expect the scammers to keep starting fires in new ways. As mentioned by Mr Ong, scammers are increasingly abusing online platforms to deceive their potential victims. To deal with this more effectively, we introduced the Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA), which will be progressively implemented from this year. Many Members supported the Bill and I thank them again.

This Act will allow authorities to order the swift blocking of online accounts or content suspected to be used for crimes, including scams. For the protection of consumer on high-risk platforms, we will also impose ex-ante requirements such as stricter requirements for identity verification.

The second set of preventive safeguards aim to disrupt fraudulent transactions, even after a victim has been tricked. This includes preventing Singpass accounts from being taken over. It is why last year, we introduced more friction into the authentication process for Singpass.

When conducting high-risk transactions, users are required to perform facial verification. To protect against impersonation attempts, which Ms Hazel Poa asked about, facial verification includes liveness checks, which guards against attacks such as using a still photo.

Facial verification was also introduced as an additional safeguard for high-risk CPF e-services. Since then, there have been no further losses to scams due to unauthorised CPF withdrawals.

Also last year, we observed the emergence of scammers exploiting malware to bypass existing safeguards and make unauthorised fraudulent transactions on victims' accounts. Having identified this new scam variant, we worked with the banks to enhance their fraud and malware detection capabilities. Compromised devices were prevented from transacting with the banks. We cannot quantify it but millions more dollars could otherwise have been lost.

Ultimately, our devices themselves must be better able to defend against malware attacks launched by scammers – Ms Tin spoke about this. We are therefore working with key industry players to enhance the security of mobile devices sold in Singapore. For instance, we are working with Google to design new features that can better detect and deter users from downloading malicious files onto Android devices.

The third set of measures involve harsher consequences to deter money mules from misusing our key digital services, such as Singpass, to perpetrate scams. We have recently tightened our legislation to criminalise individuals who intentionally disclose their Singpass credentials in aid of scams. We are also reviewing how to extend these principles to those who sell SIM cards to scammers.

Sir, fighting scams is a team effort and the Government cannot do it alone. Ms Tan spoke about the need for platform players, telcos and device manufacturers to do more to improve online safety for their users. We agree. As mentioned by Mr Ong and Mr Tan, we need companies to ensure that their customers can enjoy a safe and secure environment as they interact online.

Last August, OCBC was among the first banks in Singapore to disallow account access, if the bank app detected the presence of potentially risky mobile apps on the customers' devices. Some customers felt inconvenienced, but in fact, they may have been among those that were saved from at least $2 million in losses in the first month of roll-out. The MAS has since worked with other major banks to implement similar safeguards.

Several MPs also spoke about the need for larger companies to take more responsibility to mitigate scams by unauthorised transactions. This year, the upcoming Shared Responsibility Framework (SRF) will further enhance the accountability of the banks and telcos in protecting their customers from the threat of phishing scams. During the public consultation on the SRF, many suggestions were received, which are similar to those raised today. They relate to the expansion of coverage to more scam types and more entities, besides banks and telcos.

The SRF covers phishing scams because such scams were the main contributor to fraudulent transactions taking place without the consumer's knowledge and consent when SRF was first conceived. Compared to the payout frameworks in other jurisdictions, which only impose obligations on banks, the SRF already holds a wider scope of entities accountable by including telcos.

Duties are also specified to clearly hold banks and telcos accountable to the victims. Even if there is no breach of duty and, hence, no payout under SRF, there are other avenues of recourse for victims. These include banks' goodwill frameworks, which can provide some comfort to victims of new scam tactics. As was shared in Parliament last year, MAS has leaned on the banks to be more accommodative in applying their goodwill frameworks.

These complementary measures notwithstanding, the Government will consider how to enhance the accountability of key entities and strengthen protection for individuals within SRF or through other means that are available to us.

We hear the specific calls to include social media platforms and closed-messaging services, in particular, for scam variants involving malware and phishing that result in unauthorised transactions. I appreciate Mr Vikram Nair and Ms Hazel Poa's acknowledgment that there are trade-offs and moral hazards to consider and that the Government cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach.

With regard to physical tokens, these are available upon customer request. I should caution, however, that existing physical tokens may be resistant to malware, but they are still vulnerable to phishing tactics. Agencies are, therefore, studying longer-term solutions, such as the Fast IDentity Online (FIDO) passkeys that were mentioned by Ms Tin.

Sir, I thank Members who have recognised the many steps we are taking and also the challenges our agencies face, such as those identified by Mr Vikram Nair. To Mr Yip Hon Weng's suggestion to learn from best practices abroad, we have been proactive. Our efforts include exchanging information on the latest scam variants and strategies to combat scams.

However, all of these efforts notwithstanding, this may still beg the question, "Has Singapore been slack in fighting scams?"

On the contrary, Singapore is widely regarded as a leader in thought and action when it comes to battling scams. When interacting with our international counterparts, I can only share with you how much they marvel at some of the initiatives that we have put in place, which they consider quite unthinkable in their own context and still quite cutting edge. And these include widespread call blocking, the SMS Sender ID Registry (SSIR) and the kill switches that the banks now use; and also CPF Board.

The fact that we have an Anti-Scam Command, which involves the co-location of banks and, soon, other entities that we are speaking with; the fact that we have ScamShield; and something that people in the trade are very interested about: the backend processes that none of us will get to talk about in this room – among the agencies and all the stakeholders to smoothen the process of following up on leads – that is something that they find very difficult to even bring about.

Many measures have also reduced the losses – stemmed the losses – to a very significant extent. So, then that begs the question, "What about these rankings that you come across that named Singapore as one of these top places in terms of how much victims have lost?"

Well, I can only say this. In many places, scam victims are not going to take the trouble to report the fact that they have been scammed, because they do not expect whichever authority they report to, to be able to do anything about it. And so, when these kinds of reports are a function of reporting, what this really tells us is that reporting levels in Singapore are very high. This is, of course, not to trivialise the amounts lost. But I think we have to recognise that fact.

In this regard, I think we also have to recognise that our members of the public have been quite remarkable in terms of their openness and willingness to pay attention to public education efforts on scams. I appreciate that it sometimes makes them quite anxious – because they keep hearing about it when they are at the bus stop, they see it when they are at the void deck and they see the digital display panels and then they go to a grassroots event and the Member of Parliament is also advising them to listen to the Police talk about anti-scam measures. So, I appreciate this. It gives a certain sense of anxiety.

But it is an essential part of our overall scam defence which we cannot avoid and which we aim to fortify through a variety of means. And so, the question is: what more can we do?

First, let us take a step back and acknowledge that all countries recognise that when it comes to dealing with scams, there is really no silver bullet. There is not a single measure that you can implement and be done with it. In the trade, they call this a wicked problem. In cyber as well as in scams, you solve one problem, the bad actors are driven somewhere else and you have to start again.

Therefore, an agile approach is critical and a very good example is how we had to very quickly pivot to dealing with the malware-enabled scams which had not been conceived of before and had not been seen before. It is very easy to say that, "You should have anticipated it." Not so easy in reality.

The last thing, in this context, is not for us to politicise the debate or to vilify any group because you do not know when the next scam variant comes around who you need to work with to try and solve the problem. So, vilifying any group is not a good idea and we should very consciously try to avoid this. This is a problem that has emerged and we have observed in other countries. This is one lesson that we are taking away. Do not go around vilifying various groups and saying that you should have done this, you should have done that. We will need them at some point. It is better to preserve the relationship and find ways to work together.

So, in this context, I was listening carefully to Members' contributions and I appreciate all of them a great deal. I could not help but notice that, amongst the Members who spoke from the Workers' Party, there was this term that was repeated quite a few times. This is what Mr Vikram Nair also responded to. He said that he disagreed with this idea that there is a crisis of confidence.

I am not sure what the purpose of describing this problem this way is. We do have a situation that we are dealing with and we are taking it very seriously. But let me perhaps offer a viewpoint from the agencies and the officers who are looking at this problem and listening to this debate and share what it comes across like to them.

This is a bit like, you know, firefighters on the frontline. You are trying all ways and means to, firstly, figure out what is the terrain that you are working with and trying to push back the fire, not let it spread. And there, we have a group of bystanders who are, you know, instead of praying for them, encouraging them, we are saying to them: you should be doing this, you should be doing that – pontificating.

And then, when they do manage to put out some fires, with great effort and actually getting ready to fight the next fire because they know it is coming, the very same bystanders say, "Thank goodness, I said that." You know, see, how wonderful!

I say to Members, have a care. This is a tough fight and I think our agencies and all the people involved they are not just public officers. By all means recognise the fact that there are also private sector players involved. It is hard work. And I think one of the Members said it is quite thankless. I believe it was Ms Hany Soh who said so and I appreciate her for acknowledging that. So, let us cheer them on. It is not so easy.

So, Sir, overall, I am still very glad that all parties support the Motion and have largely avoided grandstanding. I call on Members to please use your own networks and your social media influence not to spread this, you know, very easy labels, to tag onto something like this, but to spread awareness of the tools that can really help people. I think that is a far better use of your social media influence. Use it appropriately.

And my humble appeal to all Members who have contributed your ideas and suggestions, please give our agencies time to consider the feedback and to prioritise what is most needle-moving, because, actually, it will not be a matter of doing more, but doing more of the right things continuously. At any one time, we will be introducing new measures while designing some more. In fact, I would like to announce three today.

As apps are the most common way to transact online, we also need app developers to design for security. This is why Cyber Security Agency (CSA) is publishing a new recommended Safe App Standard (Standard) that app developers should adopt to ensure that high-risk monetary transactions performed on their apps are secure.

The Standard will set out best practices that reduce the risk of malicious actors exploiting weaknesses in the app design. For example, apps could be designed to require additional authentication of a user before authorising high-risk transactions, such as those providing access to our assets or savings.

The Standard will also recommend that developers build in malware detection capabilities on their apps, since this feature has proven to be effective in disrupting scammers' unauthorised transactions using compromised devices. CSA will incorporate more of such effective practices in the Standard as they emerge or as the technologies evolve.

CSA will also consider how best to help end-users easily identify apps that meet these Standards. As the Standard is new, we will assess its usefulness in due course and whether to keep it voluntary or make it mandatory.

Besides apps that people use, we must also better protect vulnerable segments. To strengthen safeguards against them being tricked into signing up and footing the bill for phone lines used for scams, IMDA has published the Advisory Guidelines for telcos to protect vulnerable consumers.

It calls for measures to help frontline staff identify vulnerable consumers during service sign-up and handle cases of suspected exploitation. The Guidelines also encourage telcos to waive charges for vulnerable consumers who have fallen victim to scams. Arising from earlier cases encountered, MHA is also exploring ways to better protect the public, particularly those who continue to believe the scammers, despite being warned by the Police and even their own family members.

As the landscape evolves, we will need to grow new capabilities to keep pace with scammers and online risks. Several Members mentioned the misuse of deepfakes to create compelling pitches, such as the recent ads featuring our leaders' likeness to promote crypto scams. We are most concerned about this.

As a first step, MCI and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) will officially launch the Centre for Advanced Technologies in Online Safety (CATOS). The Centre will be a platform to bring together our community of research partners, companies and practitioners in Singapore to build capabilities for a safer Internet.

Such capabilities may include tools and measures to: (a) detect harmful content, such as deepfakes and non-factual claims; (b) inject watermarks or trace the origin of digital content; and (c) empower vulnerable groups with resources to verify information they encounter online.

These research efforts will also help inform new legislation or regulations that we will need for issues, such as deepfakes, and which we are studying. As Ms Tan pointed out, even with extensive efforts by the Government and businesses, we must each do our part as individuals to remain vigilant online.

First, we should adopt measures that can mitigate the risks of scams, even if they may seem inconvenient or unnecessarily strict. This could mean downloading and enabling the ScamShield app or turning on multi-factor authentication for online services. We should avoid downloading apps from unfamiliar sources and avoid responding to suspicious videos promising guaranteed returns on investments or giveaways. When accessing websites, individuals should also exercise vigilance by always checking the URL in the address bar of their web browser.

We agree with Mr Ong that consumer banking and messaging service providers can do more to prompt users to adopt such habits. The Government will continue working with key industry players to further strengthen efforts to raise public awareness.

Second, we should educate ourselves on the latest scam trends and anti-scam measures such as those on ScamAlert.sg. We should use available tools to make more informed decisions when transacting online. These include the E-commerce Marketplace Transaction Safety Ratings (TSR), which provide information on how secure an e-commerce platform is against scams.

Even as we continue our efforts to stop scams and recover losses, we must not forget about the trauma experienced by victims. We understand the panic and anxiety that victims go through. That is why the SPF has trained volunteer Victim Care Officers to provide emotional and practical support to victims. The Anti-Scam Resource Guide on SPF's website also sets out additional avenues of community support.

Mr Sharael Taha suggested reviewing the process of freezing bank accounts for the entire duration of the investigation period. SPF only freezes bank accounts when there is reason to suspect that they are involved in criminal activities. The time taken for investigations can differ from case to case.

Victims with frozen bank accounts may be offered new ones by banks, which may come with restricted access to certain facilities, or be subject to enhanced monitoring measures. But these will still meet basic banking needs such as receiving salaries and Government support. Victims can also make an application to the Courts to withdraw money for reasonable living or other legitimate expenses. Mr Speaker, please allow me to conclude in Mandarin.

Mr Speaker : Minister, you have about two minutes. Would that be enough? If not, I would suggest that the Leader of the House moves —

Mrs Josephine Teo : I will make it.

Mr Speaker : Alright. Go ahead.

Mrs Josephine Teo : ( In Mandarin ) : [ Please refer to Vernacular Speech .] Mr Speaker, firstly, I would like to reiterate my support for the Motion put forward by Ms Tin Pei Ling.

Singapore's digital journey has brought great benefits, such as new economic opportunities for our people and businesses. However, it has also introduced new risks, including digitally-enabled scams that many people are concerned about.

Therefore, the Government must enable our people to ride the wave of opportunities arising from our digital transformation, whilst doing everything possible to strengthen safety and trust in our digital domain.

To this end, the Government has prioritised efforts to deal with scams. Many measures have been implemented and proven to be effective. However, as the scammers evolve their tactics, we too must update our counter measures.

The Government will introduce three new measures to further strengthen our defences against scams. They are: enhancing the security of mobile applications; advisory guidelines for telcos to protect vulnerable consumers; and efforts to develop advanced technologies to combat scams.

There is no silver bullet in the fight against scams; neither can the Government do it alone. This is a long-term battle that requires everyone's cooperation.

But I believe that with persistent efforts and contributions from everyone, the battle can eventually be won. Thank you.

Mr Speaker : And you still have 30 seconds to spare. Ms Sylvia Lim.

7.33 pm

Ms Sylvia Lim (Aljunied) : Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to respond to the Minister for Communications and Information's reference to what myself and my colleagues have mentioned about moving towards a crisis of confidence.

First of all, I would like to state categorically that in my speech, I did not do so to politicise the issue or to create panic. My desire was to actually reflect what I see as the current sentiment in significant sections of the public. I would like to offer five reasons, if I may, on how I come to this opinion.

First of all, according to the IMDA's Singapore Digital Society Report released in November, the statistics show that 99% of persons aged 60 and above are worried about becoming scam victims. Ninety-nine percent. That is almost 100% of the people in this age group who are worried about becoming scam victims.

Secondly, today, during the course of the debate, we have also heard of MPs talking about residents ignoring official communications because they cannot tell whether this is authentically from the Government or if it is a scam message. So, messages to enrol in Healthier SG are ignored.

Third, I think we all know the statistics of scam losses. As the Minister herself pointed out, the fact that there is so much public education now, may also lead to feelings of anxiety in the public, which I think are very real.

Fourth, I myself have received feedback from members of the public who expressed the desire to take their accounts offline. These could include retirees, with their CPF transactions and so on. I do not think they are isolated incidents.

Last of all, the fifth reason I would offer is that with the setting up of this new task force on Resilience and Security of Digital Infrastructure and Services, I believe that its purpose is to oversee matters of public confidence.

So, I would argue that there is a serious issue with public confidence and I think it is borne out by these factors that I have mentioned. And I also acknowledged the work done by the agencies – it is not that we are ignorant of such. Of course, we do appreciate it and realise that it is a big task and a 24/7 effort.

So, Mr Speaker, I would argue that I believe I am entitled to my opinion, just as the Minister is entitled her opinion.

Mrs Josephine Teo : Mr Speaker, I appreciate Ms Lim for her clarifications. I do not think there is a question that we are each entitled to our opinions. This was not a question of opinion at all. It is simply to say that following the debate, whatever goes on to social media for the benefit of the people who are not able to take part in this discussion, I hope that messages being put out by MPs do not simply use very sensational, glaring headlines.

I would very much appreciate if we can keep our efforts focused on the actual things that will make a difference. That is all I am asking for. I appreciate that if there is alignment on this issue across the aisle. And I would also urge MPs – let us try to keep it that way. It is the only way we can win this war against the scammers.

Mr Speaker : Mr Darryl David.

7.37 pm

Mr Darryl David (Ang Mo Kio) : Mr Speaker, Sir, the Motion today, "Building an Inclusive and Safe Digital Society", is a very broad one. Indeed, we have heard views approaching this topic from many different angles.

In my capacity as Deputy Chairman of the GPCs for Culture, Community and Youth and Education, I would like to focus on the issue of online harms and the impact of online harms on two specific groups in our community – women and children. And also from an education perspective, what more can be done to help mitigate the impact of online harms through education.

Although there has yet to be a universally accepted definition of what constitute online harms, this can be broadly described as online behaviour that may directly or indirectly hurt a person physically or emotionally, harmful information that is posted online or information sent to a person via electronic means.

Increasingly, countries are realising the dangers of online harms and the adverse impacts they could have on vulnerable communities. The UK passed the Online Safety Bill in October 2023 to protect people, especially children, from online harms.

In Singapore, we have taken active steps to mitigate the danger of online harms by introducing the Codes of Practice for Online Safety and the Content Code for Social Media Services in 2022 and also passing the Online Criminal Harms Act, as was referenced earlier in the debate, in 2023.

While these codes of conducts and regulations were introduced and passed in good faith and they are laudable and much needed attempts to make online spaces safer, they are also broad strokes that probably do not adequately capture the complexities of online harms.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the online world is in many ways just as if not more diverse than the offline physical world. Online harms are notoriously nebulous and regulating them is difficult because, although they are undesirable and morally questionable, many of them are not, strictly speaking, illegal. For instance, how do we define and regulate trolling, cancel campaigns and the issue of body shaming online? Different people would understand and interpret them somewhat differently, depending on whether they are engaging those activities or are on the receiving end of such behaviours.

These online behaviours, although not illegal, can cause severe mental distress, emotional anguish and diminish the self-worth of victims, even causing victims to experience physical harm if left unchecked over prolonged period.

I believe there is an urgent need to tackle these non-illegal but distressful online harms since they are more likely to happen on a day-to-day basis on social media platforms, thereby impacting a wider community, and are harder to detect and act on than overt online dangers such as terrorism propaganda, child sexual abuse and other exploitation materials.

I would like to speak now on having a more nuanced topology on online danger and online harms.

Overt online danger such as terrorism propaganda, sexual exploitation and abuse, threats to racial and religious harmony and public health are entirely different from online harms such as cyberstalking, body shaming, unwanted sexual attention, trolling and cancel campaigns. So, bundling them together within the same topology of undesirable online content could sometimes risk obfuscating the nature and impact of these online harms, potentially reducing the efficacy of remedy or remedial actions that can be undertaken.

The World Economic Forum has recently developed a Topology of Online Harms that had provided a more nuanced breakdown of such harms, examining them from content production, distribution, consumption and whether such harms took place through interactions with others – contact-based – or were through behaviours facilitated by technology, which is more based on conduct.

I believe there is a need for us to adopt a similar approach to classify online harms in Singapore in a more nuanced manner, so that we can build a more robust regulatory framework on online harms, implement target-based upstream preventive education in schools and communities to inoculate as we educate Singaporeans, especially women and children, against online harms and provide victim-centric downstream remediation support by working with civil societies and other groups to offer accessible legal and non-legal assistance.

Mr Speaker, Sir, a recent study by RySense, Sunshine Alliance for Action and MCI highlighted that almost 50% of the sample have experienced some form of online harm – not surprisingly, with women less likely to feel safe online and feeling more likely to be targets of online harms. What is worrisome is the unwillingness of victims to seek remediation with the top three reasons being: (a) the belief that perpetrators will not be brought to justice due to anonymity of the Internet; (b) ineffectual reporting channels of social media platforms; and (c) victims not knowing what to do.

Separately, in a report titled "10 Online Harm Myths" published by SG Her Empowerment, women between the age of 25 and 34 are more likely to suffer from online harms and a good portion of youths believe that online harms are less serious than offline ones and would stop once you go offline. Worryingly, there are also youths who believe that women who upload images online should be accepting of negative comments; as in, it is acceptable to receive sexually explicit images even when unrequested. These beliefs are quite disturbing.

The results from the two studies are telling.

First, they suggest that the actual number of victims of online harms might be higher than we think because many victims are unwilling to come forward to disclose their experience because they feel that disclosure and reporting would not make much difference to their ordeals.

Second, the results also suggest that not only is there a general lack of awareness about such harms, but there is also a certain level of apathy among youths on the possible repercussions arising from these harms, ironically when they themselves are more likely to be the target of such behaviours.

Extending this line of argument further, the lack of awareness and being apathetic towards online harms might result in youths becoming unintentional perpetrators of such behaviours.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I believe there is a need for us to stem and stop such misbeliefs among victims and youths by adopting victim-centric education and remediation.

First, I would like to encourage MOE to create mandatory online learning modules for students to better understand the wrongful content nature of online harms, how their distribution and consumption will cause distress and hurt to victims and where to seek help if they are victims. Just as how some companies require their employees to complete annual mandatory e-learning exercises and quizzes on the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), for example, perhaps all students in Singapore above a certain age must complete the module and obtain a minimum score in the online harms quiz.

Second, I hope that we can take a more strident position on perpetrators of online harms, bearing in mind the long-term scarring impact that such harms might have on victims. When social media platforms take down identified offensive online content, can they consider banning or restricting the offending IP address from accessing their platforms or from creating new social media accounts?

Third, at present, I believe there is only one dedicated centre – SG Her Empowerment – where victims of online harms can seek assistance. Could the Government consider working with other civil society groups, especially community-based ones, to provide additional avenues for victims of online harms to seek for assistance?

To further encourage victims of online harms to seek for help and to increase their confidence that actions will be taken against perpetrators, would the Government then consider with working even with social media platforms to compile an annual report of the number of online harm cases reported, the number of successful actions taken, the type of actions taken against the perpetrators and the number of convictions made in a year?

I believe making these statistics and the identification even of convicted perpetrators available will give victims the assurance that their voices are being heard and actions will be taken to safeguard their online safety.

Mr Speaker, Sir, Singapore has been a forerunner in tackling potential harms of the Internet. We began to take a serious view on misinformation and disinformation in 2017 when we conducted a review on our existing laws to combat fake news. When the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act was passed in 2019, we were one of the first countries in the world to pass a law tackling online falsehoods. So, we are leaders in this field.

With generative AI and deepfakes opening up a new frontier on online harms, I believe that it is timely that we calibrate our approach towards online harms by taking a more serious view on them and thereby making a digital indeed, not just inclusive, but a safe space for our community. With that, I end my speech in firm support of the Motion.

Mr Speaker : Ms Tin Pei Ling. Hold on. Mr Leong, do you have a clarification? It should be a clarification and not a speech.

7.47 pm

Mr Leong Mun Wai (Non-Constituency Member) : Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir. I just have one question for Minister Josephine Teo.

I am glad that many Members have pointed out that digital inclusivity is also about ensuring that digital systems are inclusive and user-friendly and not deployed just for profit-seeking by businesses. That indeed is PSP's core position as presented by my colleague, Ms Hazel Poa.

In view that, I would like to ask the Minister how she will respond in relation to what we have discussed and debated today about digital inclusivity, how she will respond to the many negative feedback from Singaporeans about SimplyGo. Incidents like SimplyGo will affect the trust in digital systems in the long run.

Mrs Josephine Teo : Mr Speaker, I invite Mr Leong to file a Parliamentary Question on that. I think that will be more appropriate, so that a proper response can be given.

Mr Speaker : I agree. Ms Tin Pei Ling.

7.49 pm

Ms Tin Pei Ling (MacPherson) : Sir, it has been my great privilege to debate in this House on taking a whole-of-nation approach to sustain trust through a safe and inclusive digital society.

Our PAP MPs, Ms Jessica Tan, Mr Sharael Taha, Ms Hany Soh, Ms Nadia Samdin, Dr Wan Rizal, Mr Yip Hon Weng, Ms Mariam Jaafar, Mr Vikram Nair and Mr Darryl David have put forth a total of 13 calls to action, many more, if we double click into these calls of action, calling on our Government, industry players and individuals, like you and me, to play a more proactive role in ensuring a safe and inclusive online environment as Singapore continues to forge ahead into the digital future. I thank my Parliamentary colleagues for working on and making these calls.

Past Parliament Sittings have seen colleagues from both sides of the aisle raising questions and putting forth suggestions on different issues pertaining to both opportunities and risks that come with digitalisation. Hence, I am heartened that we have had a robust debate on this Motion in this House today and most of all, I am heartened by the echos of support for the Motion, from both sides of the aisle, that the GPC for Communications and Information has put forth.

And I sincerely appreciate the interest and support from the Workers' Party, namely, Ms Sylvia Lim, Assoc Prof Jamus Lim and Mr Gerald Giam as well as the Progress Singapore Party, Ms Hazel Poa and, of course, our Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs), Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim, Mr Ong Hua Han, Ms Usha Chandradas, Mr Mark Lee and Ms Jean See, in this Moton debate as well.

I will not recap everyone's points and suggestions, but I have gained useful insights from all of you in this House.

Through the debate, it is clear that Singapore is not alone in facing the challenges that come along with digitalisation. Challenges, such as scams and online harms, have been a global issue. Advanced economies, like the US, UK and Europe are also still in the process of better understanding the issues and formulating responses and safeguards to better protect their own citizens, given the evolving nature of these risks and challenges.

That being the case, having heard from Minister Josephine Teo and Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How earlier, I believe we can feel more assured now, with the many initiatives and safeguards that the Government has already put in place to protect and enable our citizens in the digital economy and digital society.

These include pooling of resources and expertise, tools, codes and legislation to tackle scams, harmful online content, misinformation and data protection, as well as financial assistance and support schemes to enable digital access and empower the vulnerable.

Given the many initiatives implemented at different points of time, some publicised and some not, it is sometimes easy to misunderstand the Government as being too slow, too slacked, uncaring and only favouring business or money. But arising from this debate, I am glad to note the suite of Government initiatives in place to detect, deter and protect Singaporeans. The "big picture" is a lot clearer now.

So, instead of claiming that there is a "crisis of confidence" in Singapore towards digital, it is more appropriate to note that Singapore has been proactive in tackling the challenges, when some advanced countries actually found it unthinkable to do.

I am also especially appreciative that the Government has been open to our 13 calls to action and committed to taking actions on our calls made.

Ultimately, both sides of this House do not disagree that digitalisation has and will continue to bring benefits to our nation and our people.

But there are risks that we must manage and we will, because it is debilitating if we stop moving forward and living our lives, just because we are worried about all the possible consequences outside. I should add that we need to also recognise that there is always a balance to be struck. While we want rigour in how we manage risks and prevent harms to our people, we also want to ensure that we do not add disproportionate amount of friction to digital transactions or meaningful innovations. So, let us also be mindful that there will be trade-offs.

Still, it remains that we all need to do more. If everyone is willing to take on a larger share of the responsibility, we can protect more people and reduce the possible harms to the ordinary citizen.

( In Mandarin ) : [ Please refer to Vernacular Speech .] Earlier on, I mentioned the opportunities and challenges brought forth by digital transformation. Online harm is also evolving rapidly, as the Chinese saying goes "the higher the level, the greater the devil". I hope that through the combined efforts of the Government, businesses and the people, we can defeat the devils even as they get more sophisticated. Thus, we will be able to build an inclusive and safe digital society with deep trust.

( In English ): As I conclude, I would like to echo what my fellow Parliamentary colleagues have expounded in this debate. With stronger partnerships between the Government, industry players and our people, Singapore can be the beacon and lead the world in fostering trust in the digital future, through a safe and inclusive digital society. [ Applause .]

Mr Speaker : Any clarifications for Ms Tin? No.

[(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)]

[(proc text) Resolved, "That this House reaffirms our commitment to adopt a whole-of-nation approach to sustain trust by building an inclusive and safe digital society." (proc text)]

Mr Speaker : Leader of the House.

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